Ask someone the capital of California and there's a good chance they'll say Los Angeles. It's Sacramento. Ask about Illinois and you'll hear Chicago; it's Springfield. Many US state capitals are not the biggest or best-known city in the state, and that's exactly what makes them hard to remember.
This deck covers the first 26 states in alphabetical order, Alabama to Montana. Part 2 covers Nebraska to Wyoming.
Why so many capitals are small cities
When states chose their capitals, often in the 1800s, many picked a site near the middle of the state, so it was reachable from everywhere, or a compromise between rival cities. The big cities grew later, around ports, railroads and industry. Many states moved their capital a few times (California had four before Sacramento), but once a capital was settled it usually stayed put while another city overtook it.
Capitals that aren't the largest city
| State | Capital | Largest city |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Montgomery | Huntsville (Birmingham until the 2020 Census) |
| Alaska | Juneau | Anchorage |
| California | Sacramento | Los Angeles |
| Connecticut | Hartford | Bridgeport |
| Delaware | Dover | Wilmington |
| Florida | Tallahassee | Jacksonville |
| Illinois | Springfield | Chicago |
| Kansas | Topeka | Wichita |
| Kentucky | Frankfort | Louisville |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge | New Orleans |
| Maine | Augusta | Portland |
| Maryland | Annapolis | Baltimore |
| Michigan | Lansing | Detroit |
| Minnesota | Saint Paul | Minneapolis |
| Missouri | Jefferson City | Kansas City |
| Montana | Helena | Billings |
That's 16 of these 26 states.
Capitals that are the largest city
Some are easy because the capital is the biggest city too: Phoenix (Arizona), Denver (Colorado), Atlanta (Georgia), Honolulu (Hawaii), Boise (Idaho), Indianapolis (Indiana), Des Moines (Iowa), Boston (Massachusetts), Little Rock (Arkansas) and Jackson (Mississippi). That's the other 10.
Capitals with a catch
- Juneau, Alaska has no road link to the rest of the state. People arrive by plane or ferry.
- Jefferson City, Missouri is named after Thomas Jefferson. Jackson, Mississippi is named after Andrew Jackson.
- Saint Paul, Minnesota sits across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, the state's largest city. Together they're the Twin Cities.
- Augusta is the capital of Maine. Georgia also has a city called Augusta, but Georgia's capital is Atlanta.
Easy ones to mix up
- Frankfort (Kentucky) and Topeka (Kansas). Two K states, two capitals nobody guesses. Try: "Kentucky's capital is frank about it: Frankfort."
- Montgomery (Alabama) and Helena (Montana). Montgomery sounds like Montana, but it's in Alabama.
- Jackson (Mississippi) and Jefferson City (Missouri). Both M states, both carrying presidents' names.
- Hartford (Connecticut) and Harrisburg (Pennsylvania, in part 2).
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of California?
Sacramento.
Why isn't Chicago the capital of Illinois?
Springfield was chosen in 1837, after lobbying by Abraham Lincoln and the other "Long Nine" legislators from Sangamon County, and it's nearer the middle of the state. Chicago grew into the biggest city later.
Which state capital can't be reached by road?
Juneau, Alaska. It has no road connection to the rest of the state.
How many US state capitals are also the largest city in their state?
Fewer than half: 17 of the 50. Ten of them are between Alabama and Montana, listed above.
Try it
Say each capital out loud before you flip the card. Then open a map: where in the world would you find the capital that sits across a river from its state's biggest city?