How Many U.S. State Capitals Can You Name?

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Many U.S. State Capitals Can You Name?
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

From New York all the way to California, Oregon down to Georgia, these are the capitals of all 50 states in the U.S. Do you have what it takes to name them all in a five-minute pressure test? Here's your chance to find out! 

Since the conclusion of the American Revolution and the founding of the United States, the state capitals have been important centers of culture and commerce across the country. These cities are influenced by rich histories, where legislation is passed and where local and national events are held. State capitals represent the direction of their respective states and the citizens who call those states home. 

That's why it's important to know the state capitals, even for the states that you don't live in. All fifty states are part of the country, after all, and the citizens are your neighbors and fellow countrymen. 

Are you an expert on everything when it comes to the United States, including the state capitals? Can you name the capitals of even the lesser known states? We're looking at you, Minnesota. 

If you believe you know all of the state capitals, prove it with this quiz. Get started and put your knowledge to the ultimate test!

What's the capital of Arizona?
Anchorage​
Phoenix
Arizona is a beautiful outdoors state. Part of its natural environment includes the Grand Canyon.
Buffalo
Austin

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What's the capital of California?
Los Angeles
Sacremento
Sacramento is not the largest city in California. That title goes to Los Angeles.
San Francisco​
San Diego

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What's the capital of Colorado?
Charleston
Pittsburg
Ashville
Denver
Colorado is located in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains. It was the 38th state admitted to the Union.

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What's the capital of Connecticut?
Hartford
Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It was founded in 1635.
Kansas City
Austin
Dallas

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What's the capital of Delaware?
Olympus
Auburn
Dover
Delaware was one of the original 13 colonies that fought in the American Revolution. After the war, it was the first state admitted into the Union.
Orlando

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What's the capital of Arkansas?
Denver
Dover
Little Rock
Little Rock sits on the Arkansas River. It's been the capital of Arkansas since 1821.
Augusta

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What's the capital of Florida?
Tallahassee​
Florida is known as the "Sunshine State." Every summer, thousands of tourists migrate to the beaches in Florida to catch some sun.
Jacksonville
Miami
Savannah

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What's the capital of Hawaii?
San Diego
San Francisco
Honolulu
Hawaii was the last state admitted into the Union. It received statehood in 1959.
Fort Lauderdale​

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What's the capital of Idaho?
Helena
Boise
Nearly 40% of the land in Idaho is owned by the U.S. Forest Service. That's more than any other state.
Lincoln
Starkville​

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What's the capital of Illinois?
Lincoln
Frankfort
Charlotte
Springfield
Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield for a large part of his life. After his assassination, he was buried there.

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What's the capital of Indiana?
Richmond
Atlantic City
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is a pretty big sports town. The city's home to both the Colts, an NFL team, and the Pacers, an NBA team.
Pittsburg

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What's the capital of Iowa?
Des Moines
Iowa was part of French territory during colonial times. It was obtained by the United States during the Louisiana Purchase.
Columbus
Auburn
Birmingham

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What's the capital of Kansas?
Dallas
Opelika​
Mobile
Topeka
Topeka sits on the Kansas River. The city was founded in 1854.

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What's the capital of Louisiana?
Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge may be the capital of Louisiana, but New Orleans is the largest city. It's also the biggest attraction for tourists.
New Orleans
Austin
Dover

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What's the capital of Maine?
Augusta
Maine is the location of the easternmost city of the United States. That city is Eastport, a fitting name.
Charlotte
Savannah
Birmingham

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What's the capital of Maryland?
Knoxville
Lexington
Annapolis
The United States Naval Academy is located in Annapolis. It was founded there in 1845.
Atlantic City

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What's the capital of Massachusetts?
Boston
Boston was a Puritan city founded in 1630. During the American Revolution, many key events, such as the Boston Tea Party, took place there.
Philidelphia
Pittsburg
Jefferson City

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What's the capital of Michigan?
Helena
Lansing
Michigan shares a name with Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes that border the United States and Canada. In total, there are five Great Lakes.
Concord
Salem

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What's the capital of Minnesota?
Covington
Rome
Saint Paul
The Mall of America is located in Minnesota. The mall is 9.5 million square feet.
Lexingburg

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What's the capital of Mississippi?
Birmingham
Jackson
Rock icon Elvis Presley was born in Mississippi. He lived from 1935 until 1977.
Athens
Rome

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What's the capital of Missouri?
Auburn
Jacksonville
Opelika
Jefferson City
Missouri is bordered by eight states. This is tied for first with Tennessee.

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What's the capital of Montana?
Atlantic City
San Diego
Fort Lauderdale​
Helena
Montana is a largely rural state. It's home to several animal species that flourish in the state such as elk and trumpeter swans.

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What's the capital of Nebraska?
Ashville
Lincoln
Nebraska is landlocked on each side by at least three states. It's the only state in the U.S. that's triply landlocked.
Birmingham
Albuquerque​

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What's the capital of New Hampshire?
Rome
Mobile
Ashville
Concord
New Hampshire declared its independence from Britain before any other colony leading up to the American Revolution. In fact, New Hampshire sought its independence six months before the Declaration of Independence was signed.

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What's the capital of New Jersey?
Fort Lauderdale
San Diego
Trenton
New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the U.S. It's so populated that every county is part of a metropolitan area.
Atlantic City

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What's the capital of New Mexico?
Austin
Santa Fe
Santa Fe sits 7,000 feet above sea level. That's the highest elevation for a capital in the United States.
Dover
Rome

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What's the capital of New York?
Bristol
New York City
Albany
The New York Post is the oldest continually running newspaper in the United States. It was founded in 1803 by Alexander Hamilton.
Portland

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What's the capital of North Dakota?
Knoxville
Bismarck
North Dakota has several nicknames including "The Peach Garden State." Milk is the official beverage of the state.
Lexington
Memphis

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What's the capital of Ohio?
Bristol
Brookhaven
Columbus
Ohio is home to quite a few firsts. The state had the first ambulance and the first traffic light, just to name a few.
Boulder

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What's the capital of Rhode Island?
Canton
Providence
Rhode Island is the smallest state in the United States. It only runs 48 miles from north to south.
Charlotte
Moretown

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What's the capital of South Carolina?
Knoxville
Memphis
Myrtle Beach
Columbia
South Carolina was one of the original 13 colonies. It was the eighth state admitted into the Union.

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What's the capital of South Dakota?
Rome
Pierre
South Dakota is home to Mount Rushmore. This mountain has four presidents carved into it.
Birmingham
Mobile

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What's the capital of Texas?
San Antonio
San Diego
San Francisco
Austin
Texas became a state through a treaty with Mexico. It's the only state to receive statehood this way.

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What's the capital of Utah?
Utah City
Dallas
Salt Lake City
Utah is the 13th largest state in terms of area. It was the 45th state admitted into the Union.
Kansas City

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What's the capital of Vermont?
Rome
Mobile
Savannah
Montpelier
Montpelier is the smallest capital in the country. It was incorporated as a city in 1895.

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What's the capital of Virginia?
Norfolk
Richmond
Virginia is the birthplace of Thomas Jefferson. He was a founding father and the third President of the United States.
Lynchburg
Virginia Beach

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What's the capital of Washington?
Olympia
Washington is named after George Washington. It's the only state named after a president.
Portland
Seattle
Vancouver

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What's the capital of West Virginia?
Lincoln
Liverpool
Charleston
West Virginia became a state during the Civil War. Its statehood was a result of many counties not wanting to secede from the Union.
Lowell

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What's the capital of Alaska?
Juneau
Juneau is the largest capital city in the United States. The city is spread out over 3,255 square miles.
Anchorage​
Portland
Atlanta

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What's the capital of Wisconsin?
Jackson
Charlotte
Columbus
Madison
Wisconsin is known as the "Badger State." It was the 30th state admitted into the Union.

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What's the capital of Wyoming?
Cheyenne​
Yellowstone National Park is located in Wyoming. It was the first national park in the United States.
Athens
Savannah
San Diego

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What's the capital of Pennsylvania?
Pittsburgh
Philidelphia
Harrisburg
The Hershey Company is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It's considered the chocolate capital of the United States.
Preston

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What's the capital of North Carolina?
Raleigh
The Wright brothers had their first flight in North Carolina. It occurred near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1903.
Charlotte
Savannah​
Jacksonville

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What's the capital of Georgia?
Savannah
Atlanta
Atlanta is largest city in the state of Georgia. In fact, nearly half of the state's population lives there.
Columbus
Macon

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What's the capital of Nevada?
Carson City
Nevada is also home to Las Vegas. There's a saying about Las Vegas, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."
Las Vegas
San Diego
Athens

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What's the capital of Oklahoma?
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma is a state in the Midwest. It's only natural that the National Cowboy Hall of Fame is located there.
Tulsa
Norman
Edmond

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What's the capital of Alabama?
Talladega​
Birmingham
Mobile
Montgomery
Alabama is the birth place of many famous stars. Two sports stars, Hank Aaron and Joe Louis, were both born there.

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What's the capital of Kentucky?
Louisville
Ashville
Frankfort​
Kentucky was the 15th state admitted to the Union. It is one of four states that was founded as a commonwealth.
Knoxville

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What's the capital of Tennessee?
Nashville
Tennessee is named the "Volunteer State." This name comes from volunteer soldiers who fought valiantly in the War of 1812.
Knoxville
Fort Lauderdale​
Charlotte

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What's the capital of Oregon?
Olympia
Portland
Eugene
Salem
Oregon is home to Crater Lake. This is the deepest lake in the United States.

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You Got:
/50
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