US State Capitals Quiz
Sacramento, Tallahassee, Frankfort, Pierre: 15 questions on the state capitals everyone gets wrong.
What is the capital of California?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Sacramento
Sacramento has been California's capital since 1854, chosen for its position near the Gold Rush fields and the river trade rather than for its size, which was modest at the time.
Sacramento was the western end of the Pony Express and the starting point of the first transcontinental railroad in 1863.
What is the capital of New York?
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Albany
Albany became New York's permanent capital in 1797, chosen for its central location. It sits on the Hudson River about 150 miles (240 km) north of New York City.
Albany is one of the oldest surviving European settlements from the original 13 colonies, founded by the Dutch as Fort Orange in 1624.
What is the capital of Texas?
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Austin
Austin was named the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839 and kept the role when Texas joined the Union in 1845, despite Houston's larger size.
The Texas State Capitol in Austin stands about 14 feet (4 m) taller than the United States Capitol in Washington.
What is the capital of Florida?
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Tallahassee
Tallahassee was chosen in 1824 as a midpoint between St. Augustine and Pensacola, the two main cities of the territory at the time, long before Miami existed.
Tallahassee was the only Confederate state capital east of the Mississippi that Union forces did not capture during the Civil War.
Juneau is the capital of which state?
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Alaska
Juneau became Alaska's capital in 1906, taking over from Sitka. It is the only US state capital that cannot be reached by road from the rest of its state.
Juneau is larger in area than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined, though it has only around 32,000 residents.
What is the capital of Illinois?
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Springfield
Springfield became the capital of Illinois in 1839 after a lobbying campaign led by a young state legislator named Abraham Lincoln, who lived there for nearly a quarter of a century.
Lincoln is buried in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery, and his tomb there is one of the most visited graves in the country.
What is the capital of Washington?
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Olympia
Olympia has been the seat of government since Washington was a territory in 1853, and it kept the role at statehood in 1889 even though Seattle grew far larger.
Olympia sits at the southern tip of Puget Sound and was named for the view of the Olympic Mountains to the northwest.
What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Harrisburg
Harrisburg became Pennsylvania's capital in 1812, chosen for its central location on the Susquehanna River. Philadelphia had been the capital until 1799, followed briefly by Lancaster.
Philadelphia also served as the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, D.C. was being built.
What is the capital of Nevada?
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Carson City
Carson City has been Nevada's capital since statehood in 1864. It was named for the nearby Carson River, itself named for the frontier scout Kit Carson.
Carson City is one of the least populous state capitals and lies about 30 miles (48 km) south of Reno, with Lake Tahoe just over the ridge to the west.
Montpelier is the capital of which state?
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Vermont
Montpelier has been Vermont's capital since 1805 and, with roughly 8,000 residents, it is the smallest state capital in the country by population, far smaller than Burlington.
Montpelier is famous as the only US state capital without a McDonald's restaurant, a distinction locals tend to mention with pride.
What is the capital of Kentucky?
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Frankfort
Frankfort won the capital in 1792 partly by offering the most money and materials to build a statehouse, beating both Louisville and Lexington to the role.
Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca are buried in Frankfort Cemetery on a bluff overlooking the Kentucky River.
What is the capital of Missouri?
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Jefferson City
Jefferson City was laid out in 1821 specifically to serve as Missouri's capital, placed near the center of the state on the Missouri River and named for Thomas Jefferson.
The Lewis and Clark expedition camped near the site in 1804, years before any town existed there.
Lincoln is the capital of which state?
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Nebraska
Lincoln became Nebraska's capital at statehood in 1867, when the small village of Lancaster was renamed after the recently assassinated president and chosen over the larger city of Omaha.
The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln is a 400 foot (122 m) tower topped by a bronze statue called The Sower.
Pierre is the capital of which state?
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South Dakota
Pierre has been South Dakota's capital since statehood in 1889, chosen for its central location on the Missouri River. Locals pronounce the name 'peer', not like the French name.
Pierre is one of the few state capitals not served by an interstate highway, and it is the second smallest capital by population after Montpelier.
Which state capital sits at the highest elevation above sea level?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico stands at about 7,199 feet (2,194 m), making it the highest state capital. Denver, the Mile High City, is nearly 2,000 feet lower.
Santa Fe is also the oldest state capital, founded by the Spanish in 1610, a decade before the Pilgrims reached Plymouth.
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All Geography quizzes →About the US State Capitals Quiz
The capital of New York is not New York City, Florida's is not Miami, and the capital of Nevada is not Las Vegas. State capitals were often picked for geography or politics rather than size, which is why only 17 of the 50 are the largest city in their state. Phoenix is by far the most populous capital, with more people than Boston and Denver combined.
These 15 questions start with the big states everyone should know, then move through the classic traps like Springfield, Olympia and Carson City before finishing with Pierre, Montpelier and the highest capital in the country. It suits students, road trippers, parents helping with homework and anyone who wants to finally settle the capital of Kentucky at the next pub quiz.
You will find 15 multiple choice questions here, each with four options. Difficulty: Medium. Most people finish in about 6 minutes, and every answer comes with a short explanation and one extra fact worth keeping.
How to play
Read the question and pick one of the four answers. The correct answer is revealed straight away with a short explanation, then press Next question to keep going. At the end you get your score out of 15 and a full review of your round. Play again any time and the questions arrive in a fresh order. There is no timer and no account.
Good to know before you play
How many US state capitals are also the largest city in their state?
Seventeen, including Phoenix, Denver, Boston, Honolulu, Atlanta and Indianapolis. Most capitals were chosen for central location or politics, not size.
What is the smallest US state capital?
Montpelier, Vermont, with roughly 8,000 residents, is the least populous state capital, and it is the only one without a McDonald's.
Which state capital is the highest above sea level?
Santa Fe, New Mexico sits at about 7,199 feet (2,194 m), nearly 2,000 feet higher than Denver, the so called Mile High City.
Answer key: all 15 questions with explanations
- What is the capital of California?
Sacramento Sacramento has been California's capital since 1854, chosen for its position near the Gold Rush fields and the river trade rather than for its size, which was modest at the time. Sacramento was the western end of the Pony Express and the starting point of the first transcontinental railroad in 1863. - What is the capital of New York?
Albany Albany became New York's permanent capital in 1797, chosen for its central location. It sits on the Hudson River about 150 miles (240 km) north of New York City. Albany is one of the oldest surviving European settlements from the original 13 colonies, founded by the Dutch as Fort Orange in 1624. - What is the capital of Texas?
Austin Austin was named the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839 and kept the role when Texas joined the Union in 1845, despite Houston's larger size. The Texas State Capitol in Austin stands about 14 feet (4 m) taller than the United States Capitol in Washington. - What is the capital of Florida?
Tallahassee Tallahassee was chosen in 1824 as a midpoint between St. Augustine and Pensacola, the two main cities of the territory at the time, long before Miami existed. Tallahassee was the only Confederate state capital east of the Mississippi that Union forces did not capture during the Civil War. - Juneau is the capital of which state?
Alaska Juneau became Alaska's capital in 1906, taking over from Sitka. It is the only US state capital that cannot be reached by road from the rest of its state. Juneau is larger in area than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined, though it has only around 32,000 residents. - What is the capital of Illinois?
Springfield Springfield became the capital of Illinois in 1839 after a lobbying campaign led by a young state legislator named Abraham Lincoln, who lived there for nearly a quarter of a century. Lincoln is buried in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery, and his tomb there is one of the most visited graves in the country. - What is the capital of Washington?
Olympia Olympia has been the seat of government since Washington was a territory in 1853, and it kept the role at statehood in 1889 even though Seattle grew far larger. Olympia sits at the southern tip of Puget Sound and was named for the view of the Olympic Mountains to the northwest. - What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
Harrisburg Harrisburg became Pennsylvania's capital in 1812, chosen for its central location on the Susquehanna River. Philadelphia had been the capital until 1799, followed briefly by Lancaster. Philadelphia also served as the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, D.C. was being built. - What is the capital of Nevada?
Carson City Carson City has been Nevada's capital since statehood in 1864. It was named for the nearby Carson River, itself named for the frontier scout Kit Carson. Carson City is one of the least populous state capitals and lies about 30 miles (48 km) south of Reno, with Lake Tahoe just over the ridge to the west. - Montpelier is the capital of which state?
Vermont Montpelier has been Vermont's capital since 1805 and, with roughly 8,000 residents, it is the smallest state capital in the country by population, far smaller than Burlington. Montpelier is famous as the only US state capital without a McDonald's restaurant, a distinction locals tend to mention with pride. - What is the capital of Kentucky?
Frankfort Frankfort won the capital in 1792 partly by offering the most money and materials to build a statehouse, beating both Louisville and Lexington to the role. Daniel Boone and his wife Rebecca are buried in Frankfort Cemetery on a bluff overlooking the Kentucky River. - What is the capital of Missouri?
Jefferson City Jefferson City was laid out in 1821 specifically to serve as Missouri's capital, placed near the center of the state on the Missouri River and named for Thomas Jefferson. The Lewis and Clark expedition camped near the site in 1804, years before any town existed there. - Lincoln is the capital of which state?
Nebraska Lincoln became Nebraska's capital at statehood in 1867, when the small village of Lancaster was renamed after the recently assassinated president and chosen over the larger city of Omaha. The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln is a 400 foot (122 m) tower topped by a bronze statue called The Sower. - Pierre is the capital of which state?
South Dakota Pierre has been South Dakota's capital since statehood in 1889, chosen for its central location on the Missouri River. Locals pronounce the name 'peer', not like the French name. Pierre is one of the few state capitals not served by an interstate highway, and it is the second smallest capital by population after Montpelier. - Which state capital sits at the highest elevation above sea level?
Santa Fe Santa Fe, New Mexico stands at about 7,199 feet (2,194 m), making it the highest state capital. Denver, the Mile High City, is nearly 2,000 feet lower. Santa Fe is also the oldest state capital, founded by the Spanish in 1610, a decade before the Pilgrims reached Plymouth.
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