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Quizzes > Geography

Southern States Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the South

Quick, free southeast region quiz to test your geography. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Teza AlonsoUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art map of southern US with state shapes and capital icons on golden yellow background quiz graphic

This southern states quiz helps you test your knowledge of capitals, borders, and major cities across the South. Answer quick questions, see instant results, and learn as you go. If you want to dive deeper, check out South Carolina trivia, explore Virginia trivia, or challenge yourself with the Texas quiz.

Which state is known as the "Peach State"?
South Carolina
Georgia
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia is nicknamed the "Peach State" due to its reputation for producing high-quality peaches and an early peaches crop that was central to its economy. The nickname has been used since the late 19th century and is reflected on the state quarter. Agriculture, and particularly peach farming, remains an important part of Georgias economy.
What is the capital of Louisiana?
Lafayette
Shreveport
Baton Rouge
New Orleans
Baton Rouge has been the capital of Louisiana since 1849, when it replaced New Orleans to better serve the agricultural populations upriver. The name means red stick in French, referencing a red-colored cypress pole that marked tribal boundaries. Today Baton Rouge is the second-largest city in the state.
Which river forms much of the border between Arkansas and Tennessee?
Tennessee River
Red River
Mississippi River
Ohio River
The Mississippi River forms a large portion of the border between Arkansas on the west and Tennessee on the east. It is the second-longest river in North America and a critical waterway for transport and commerce. The rivers floodplain also shapes the regions economy and ecology.
Which southern state is the only one to have a panhandle that borders four other U.S. states?
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Florida
Texas
The Texas Panhandle borders New Mexico to the west, Oklahoma to the north, Arkansas to the east, and Louisiana to the southeast. This distinct region is known for its flat plains and cattle ranching. Floridas panhandle only borders Alabama and Georgia.
Which is the largest city by population in the South?
Miami
Atlanta
Houston
Charlotte
Houston, Texas, is the most populous city in the Southern United States, with over 2.3 million residents as of the 2020 census. Its economy is driven by energy, manufacturing, aeronautics, and healthcare sectors. Houstons diversity and rapid growth have made it a major cultural and economic hub.
In which state is the Great Smoky Mountains National Park primarily located?
Virginia
North Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Great Smoky Mountains National Park spans the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, but about 60% of its land area lies within Tennessee. It is the most visited national park in the U.S., famous for its biodiversity, mist-covered forests, and historic homesteads.
Which southern state has the highest point elevation in the region?
Arkansas
Alabama
North Carolina
Tennessee
North Carolinas Mount Mitchell reaches 6,684 feet, making it the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. It is part of the Black Mountains in the Appalachians. Tennessees highest point is Clingmans Dome at 6,643 feet, slightly lower.
What was the first capital of the Confederate States of America before Richmond?
Charleston
Nashville
Montgomery
Mobile
Montgomery, Alabama, served as the first capital of the Confederacy from February to May 1861. The capital then moved to Richmond, Virginia, to be closer to the Union border and manufacturing centers. Montgomery remains known for its pivotal role at the start of the Civil War.
Which southern US state has the most total miles of coastline along the Atlantic Ocean?
North Carolina
South Carolina
Florida
Georgia
Floridas Atlantic coastline stretches for about 1,350 miles including bays and inlets, the longest of any state on the Atlantic seaboard. The peninsulas shape and extensive barrier islands contribute to its extensive shoreline. North Carolinas is roughly 301 miles, much shorter by comparison.
Which southern state was the last to officially declare secession from the Union?
Arkansas
North Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia
Tennessee held a referendum on June 8, 1861, making it the last state to secede and join the Confederacy. While initially reluctant, the vote reflected strong regional divisions over slavery and governance. Its secession followed those of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Southern US States -

    After completing this southern states quiz, you will be able to accurately locate and name each Southern US state on a blank map.

  2. Recall State Capitals -

    You will confidently recall and match each state with its capital, boosting your performance on the state capitals quiz.

  3. Label Map Regions -

    You will apply map-labeling techniques required for any US geography quiz by distinguishing state borders and regional divisions within the American South.

  4. Analyze Regional Patterns -

    You will analyze geographic and cultural patterns unique to the South, enhancing your understanding for Southern states trivia and beyond.

  5. Evaluate Trivia Skills -

    You will assess your Southern states trivia knowledge with a scoring system, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.

  6. Enhance Memory Retention -

    You will reinforce your recall of state names and capitals through targeted quiz practice, improving retention for future challenges.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding the Census Region -

    Review the U.S. Census Bureau's official definition that classifies 16 states into the Southern region, divided into South Atlantic, East South Central and West South Central subregions. Knowing this breakdown underpins any southern states quiz or Southern US quiz. Visually mapping these groupings using an official Census map (census.gov) can boost recall by 40% in memory studies (Journal of Geography Education).

  2. Subregion Breakdown -

    Memorize the three Southern subregions - South Atlantic (9 states), East South Central (4 states) and West South Central (3 states) - as defined by the Census Bureau. This structured classification helps you ace any Southern states trivia challenge by grouping states logically. Drill each cluster's capitals and borders to reinforce geographic clusters and patterns.

  3. Capitals Memory Palace -

    Create a memory palace walking through the Southern region from east to west, placing each capital in a distinct room - starting with Tallahassee on the east coast and ending with Austin in Texas. Cognitive science studies from Carnegie Mellon University show spatial encoding boosts recall over rote lists, making it perfect for your state capitals quiz. Pair each room with a vivid image (an alligator for Tallahassee, a cowboy hat for Austin) for extra stickiness to dominate any state capitals quiz.

  4. Key Rivers & Boundaries -

    Familiarize yourself with the Mississippi River's course, which forms the border for Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, and the Rio Grande dividing Texas from Mexico. The USGS (usgs.gov) offers detailed hydrological maps that help you visualize these boundaries for map-labeling sections of any US geography quiz. Drawing these features yourself on blank maps engages active recall and deepens spatial understanding.

  5. Active Map Labeling Practice -

    Engage in frequent map-labeling drills by printing blank Southern US outlines and timing yourself naming states and capitals under exam-like conditions. Research from the Association of American Geographers shows that timed retrieval practice significantly improves performance on region-specific quizzes like our Southern states trivia quiz. Supplement with online platforms like Geoguessr or Seterra to track progress and reinforce weaknesses.

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