Overview of United States Capitals
This comprehensive guide explores the capital cities across the United States. Specifically, it features locations that currently serve or have historically served as federal, state, insular, territorial, colonial, and Native American administrative centres. Since 1800, Washington, D.C. has served as the federal capital of the nation. Additionally, every U.S. state and many insular areas maintain their own distinct capital cities.
Although most states have kept the exact same capital city since achieving statehood, their preceding colonies, territories, kingdoms, and republics frequently relocated their seats of government. Furthermore, various independent governments functioning within modern U.S. borders, such as the Republic of Texas and sovereign Native American nations, established their own separate capitals.
The Evolution of the National Capital
Historically, several different buildings and cities hosted the official government under the United States Constitution. Prior to its ratification, the Second Continental Congress and the Congress of the Confederation met in various temporary locations, primarily because the government did not establish a permanent capital under the Articles of Confederation.
Establishing Washington, D.C.
When the states ratified the U.S. Constitution in 1787, they granted Congress the power to govern a dedicated federal district to serve as the permanent seat of the national government. Initially, the First Congress convened at Federal Hall in New York City. Subsequently, in 1790, lawmakers passed the Residence Act, which positioned the new national capital along the Potomac River in what would soon become Washington, D.C.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia served as the government’s temporary capital for 10 years, during which Congress conducted its business in Congress Hall. Finally, on November 17, 1800, the Sixth United States Congress formally convened in Washington, D.C.
| State | State Capital |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Montgomery |
| Alaska | Juneau |
| Arizona | Phoenix |
| Arkansas | Little Rock |
| California | Sacramento |
| Colorado | Denver |
| Connecticut | Hartford |
| Delaware | Dover |
| Florida | Tallahassee |
| Georgia | Atlanta |
| Hawaii | Honolulu |
| Idaho | Boise |
| Illinois | Springfield |
| Indiana | Indianapolis |
| Iowa | Des Moines |
| Kansas | Topeka |
| Kentucky | Frankfort |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge |
| Maine | Augusta |
| Maryland | Annapolis |
| Massachusetts | Boston |
| Michigan | Lansing |
| Minnesota | Saint Paul |
| Mississippi | Jackson |
| Missouri | Jefferson City |
| Montana | Helena |
| Nebraska | Lincoln |
| Nevada | Carson City |
| New Hampshire | Concord |
| New Jersey | Trenton |
| New Mexico | Santa Fe |
| New York | Albany |
| North Carolina | Raleigh |
| North Dakota | Bismarck |
| Ohio | Columbus |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
| Oregon | Salem |
| Pennsylvania | Harrisburg |
| Rhode Island | Providence |
| South Carolina | Columbia |
| South Dakota | Pierre |
| Tennessee | Nashville |
| Texas | Austin |
| Utah | Salt Lake City |
| Vermont | Montpelier |
| Virginia | Richmond |
| Washington | Olympia |
| West Virginia | Charleston |
| Wisconsin | Madison |
| Wyoming | Cheyenne |