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Quizzes > Geography

State Capitals Quiz: Can You Name All 50?

Quick, free 50 capitals quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Kelvin LauUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration promoting a free state capitals trivia quiz on a dark blue background

This state capitals quiz helps you practice all 50 U.S. capitals, spot gaps fast, and build recall with instant feedback. For more practice, try state capital trivia, focus on a region with a midwest states and capitals quiz, or expand beyond capitals with US state trivia.

What is the capital of California?
San Diego
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Sacramento
Sacramento has been California's capital since 1854, chosen for its central location and access to the transcontinental railroad. It replaced Vallejo and Benicia to better serve the growing state population. Today it remains the political hub of California.
What is the capital of Texas?
Austin
Dallas
San Antonio
Houston
Austin was named the capital of the Republic of Texas in 1839 and has remained the state capital since Texas joined the Union in 1845. It's known for its live music scene and tech industry.
What is the capital of New York?
Buffalo
New York City
Syracuse
Albany
Albany became New York's capital in 1797, chosen for its central location in the state. It's one of the oldest chartered cities in the U.S. and has a rich colonial and Revolutionary War history.
What is the capital of Florida?
Tallahassee
Orlando
Jacksonville
Miami
Tallahassee was selected in 1824 due to its midway location between East and West Florida's then - major cities, St. Augustine and Pensacola. It remains the political center of Florida.
What is the capital of Illinois?
Peoria
Springfield
Naperville
Chicago
Springfield became Illinois's capital in 1839, succeeding Vandalia, partly due to influence from Abraham Lincoln and its central location. It remains the seat of state government.
What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Harrisburg
Allentown
Harrisburg was made the state capital in 1812 for its more central location following population shifts westward. It sits on the Susquehanna River and is a key transportation hub.
What is the capital of Ohio?
Cincinnati
Toledo
Columbus
Cleveland
Columbus was founded in 1812 and selected as Ohio's capital due to its central location. It was named after Christopher Columbus and has grown into the state's largest city.
What is the capital of Georgia?
Augusta
Atlanta
Macintosh
Savannah
Atlanta became Georgia's capital in 1868 during Reconstruction, replacing Milledgeville. It later grew into the state's largest city and a major transportation hub.
What is the capital of North Carolina?
Greensboro
Charlotte
Raleigh
Wilmington
Raleigh was chartered in 1792 as the state capital, named for Sir Walter Raleigh. It's part of the Research Triangle and a center for technology and education.
What is the capital of Michigan?
Ann Arbor
Grand Rapids
Detroit
Lansing
Lansing became Michigan's capital in 1847 to provide a more central government location after Detroit's growth. It was previously a small town until the state legislature relocated there.
What is the capital of New Jersey?
Jersey City
Newark
Trenton
Camden
Trenton became New Jersey's capital in 1790 due to its strategic location on the Delaware River between New York and Philadelphia. It's known for the Revolutionary War Battle of Trenton.
What is the capital of Virginia?
Virginia Beach
Richmond
Norfolk
Alexandria
Richmond became Virginia's capital in 1780 during the Revolutionary War, replacing Williamsburg for strategic safety. It has deep colonial history and was the Confederacy's capital.
What is the capital of Washington?
Seattle
Spokane
Tacoma
Olympia
Olympia was chosen as Washington's capital in 1853 when it was part of the Oregon Territory, selected for its harbor and central location. It remained the capital when Washington became a state in 1889.
What is the capital of Massachusetts?
Cambridge
Boston
Worcester
Springfield
Boston has been Massachusetts's capital since 1630, making it one of the oldest capitals in the U.S. It was central to the American Revolution and remains a cultural and economic hub.
What is the capital of Arizona?
Tucson
Scottsdale
Phoenix
Mesa
Phoenix became Arizona's capital in 1889, chosen for its central location and growing economy tied to agriculture and railroads. It's now the nation's fifth-largest city.
What is the capital of Tennessee?
Knoxville
Chattanooga
Memphis
Nashville
Nashville became Tennessee's capital in 1843 due to its central location and river access. It's known as the "Music City" and a center for country music.
What is the capital of Louisiana?
Shreveport
New Orleans
Baton Rouge
Lafayette
Baton Rouge has been Louisiana's capital since 1849, chosen for its central location along the Mississippi River. The name comes from French for "red stick," referencing a boundary marker.
What is the capital of Mississippi?
Biloxi
Hattiesburg
Gulfport
Jackson
Jackson became Mississippi's capital in 1822 and was named for General Andrew Jackson. It's located near the center of the state and grew around the Pearl River.
What is the capital of Rhode Island?
Pawtucket
Newport
Providence
Warwick
Providence was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams and has been Rhode Island's capital since 1900 when state government centralized. It's one of the oldest cities in the U.S.
What is the capital of Connecticut?
Bridgeport
Stamford
New Haven
Hartford
Hartford was made Connecticut's capital in 1875 due to its industrial and financial prominence. It's nicknamed the "Insurance Capital of the World."
What is the capital of Vermont?
Rutland
Stowe
Burlington
Montpelier
Montpelier became Vermont's capital in 1805, chosen for its central location. It is the least populous state capital in the U.S., known for its small-town charm.
What is the capital of Montana?
Missoula
Billings
Helena
Bozeman
Helena was founded during the 1864 gold rush and became Montana's territorial capital in 1875. It retained its status when Montana achieved statehood in 1889.
What is the capital of Idaho?
Nampa
Boise
Pocatello
Coeur d'Alene
Boise became Idaho's territorial capital in 1864 and state capital in 1890. Its name comes from the French word for "wooded," referencing the Boise River's trees.
What is the capital of Wyoming?
Casper
Jackson
Cheyenne
Laramie
Cheyenne was chosen as the territorial capital in 1869 due to its railroad hub status. It remained the state capital when Wyoming gained statehood in 1890.
What is the capital of Minnesota?
Rochester
Minneapolis
St. Paul
Duluth
St. Paul was made Minnesota's capital in 1849 when the territory was organized. It sits across the Mississippi River from Minneapolis.
What is the capital of Wisconsin?
Madison
Green Bay
Milwaukee
Kenosha
Madison was founded in 1836 as Wisconsin's capital because it lay between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. It was named after President James Madison.
What is the capital of South Carolina?
Greenville
Columbia
Charleston
Myrtle Beach
Columbia was founded in 1786 to replace Charleston as South Carolina's capital, selected for its central location. It's named after Christopher Columbus.
What is the capital of Louisiana?
New Orleans
Lafayette
Baton Rouge
Shreveport
Baton Rouge has been Louisiana's capital since 1849, chosen for its central location along the Mississippi River. The name comes from French for "red stick," referencing a boundary marker.
What is the capital of Kentucky?
Lexington
Bowling Green
Frankfort
Louisville
Frankfort was selected as Kentucky's capital in 1792 because it sat between Louisville and Lexington and offered river access. Despite its small size, it's the state's political center.
What is the capital of Utah?
St. George
Salt Lake City
Ogden
Provo
Salt Lake City was founded in 1847 by Mormon pioneers and became Utah's territorial and, later, state capital. It's known for the nearby Great Salt Lake.
What is the capital of New Mexico?
Albuquerque
Roswell
Santa Fe
Las Cruces
Santa Fe was established in 1610 and is the oldest state capital in the U.S. It became New Mexico's capital under Spanish rule and retained that status through American statehood.
What is the capital of West Virginia?
Morgantown
Charleston
Wheeling
Huntington
Charleston became West Virginia's capital in 1885, replacing Wheeling. It was chosen for its central location along the Kanawha River.
What is the capital of Hawaii?
Honolulu
Hilo
Kailua
Maui
Honolulu has been Hawaii's capital since 1845 and is on the island of Oahu. It's the only U.S. capital located on an island.
What is the capital of Idaho?
Nampa
Coeur d'Alene
Pocatello
Boise
Boise became Idaho's territorial capital in 1864 and maintained that status when Idaho gained statehood. Its name originates from the French word for "wooded."
What is the capital of New Hampshire?
Manchester
Lebanon
Nashua
Concord
Concord was chosen as New Hampshire's capital in 1808 for its central location. It's known for its historic State House, one of the oldest in the nation.
What is the capital of Maine?
Bangor
Lewiston
Augusta
Portland
Augusta was selected as Maine's capital in 1827 for its location on the Kennebec River. It remained the capital when Maine separated from Massachusetts in 1820.
What is the capital of Nebraska?
Omaha
Lincoln
Grand Island
Kearney
Lincoln was chosen as Nebraska's capital in 1867 to replace Omaha, partly to honor President Abraham Lincoln. It was then a small frontier town that grew around the university.
What is the capital of Kansas?
Kansas City
Wichita
Topeka
Lawrence
Topeka became Kansas's capital in 1856, chosen for its free-state stance just before the Civil War. Its name comes from a Kansa-Osage phrase meaning "a good place to grow potatoes."
What is the capital of South Dakota?
Aberdeen
Pierre
Rapid City
Sioux Falls
Pierre was chosen for its central location in Dakota Territory in 1889, partly to moderate regional rivalry. Despite its remote setting, it remains South Dakota's capital.
Which state capital sits at the highest elevation?
Denver, Colorado
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Helena, Montana
Santa Fe lies at about 7,199 feet, making it the highest state capital by elevation. Denver, though nicknamed the "Mile High City," is only at 5,280 feet. Santa Fe's altitude reflects its location in the Sangre de Cristo foothills.
Which state capital is the northernmost in the United States?
Helena, Montana
Juneau, Alaska
Olympia, Washington
Bismarck, North Dakota
Juneau lies at about 58°18?N, making it the northernmost state capital. It's unique for having no road access to the rest of Alaska or North America.
Which state capital is not connected to its surrounding road network by highway?
Juneau, Alaska
Carson City, Nevada
Honolulu, Hawaii
Salem, Oregon
Juneau has no road connecting it to the rest of Alaska; travel is by boat or plane only. This isolation stems from rugged terrain and protected wilderness.
Which capital city was originally called Terminus?
Denver, Colorado
Jackson, Mississippi
Atlanta, Georgia
Bismarck, North Dakota
Atlanta began as the terminus of a major state railroad in 1837 and was named Terminus before becoming Marthasville, then Atlanta. It grew into Georgia's capital and largest city.
Which state capital has the longest official name by character count?
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Des Moines, Iowa
Salt Lake City, Utah
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Salt Lake City (12 letters plus spaces) is the longest single capital name in the U.S. Its three?word name reflects its founding by Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley.
Which capital was the last to be established among the 50 states?
Honolulu, Hawaii
Bismarck, North Dakota
Little Rock, Arkansas
Juneau, Alaska
Hawaii was the last state admitted (1959), and Honolulu has been its capital since 1845. Alaska's Juneau was chosen as a territory capital in 1906 but preceded statehood.
Which state capital's name comes from a Native American word meaning "good place to grow potatoes"?
Tacoma, Washington
Topeka, Kansas
Pocatello, Idaho
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Topeka comes from Kansa-Osage words "to" (potato) and "peka" (good place). Early settlers adopted the name to recognize the region's cultivation potential.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify State Capitals -

    Participants will accurately match each US state with its capital city, solidifying their knowledge of all 50 capitals.

  2. Recall Capitals Under Time Constraints -

    Learn to quickly retrieve capital names when challenged, boosting both speed and retention during the quiz.

  3. Differentiate Similar Names -

    Distinguish between commonly confused capitals to reduce errors and increase accuracy in your answers.

  4. Apply Memorization Strategies -

    Adopt effective techniques - such as mnemonic devices - to memorize state capitals more efficiently for long-term recall.

  5. Analyze Geographic Patterns -

    Recognize regional groupings and patterns among state capitals to deepen your understanding of US geography.

  6. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Interpret quiz results to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses, guiding targeted review and improvement.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Regional Mnemonics -

    Grouping states by region helps you tackle state capitals trivia in chunks. For example, remember the New England capitals with the phrase "Car Maine Makes New Roads Vibrant" for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (National Geographic Society). This technique simplifies a us states and capitals online quiz by reducing memory overload.

  2. Landmark Associations -

    Link each capital to a famous landmark or nickname to boost recall during a quiz on us capitals. Picture Atlanta's skyline or Denver's "Mile-High City" sign when naming Georgia or Colorado's capital (Smithsonian Institution). Associating visuals makes your state capitals trivia answers stick.

  3. Flashcard Spaced Repetition -

    Use digital flashcards on platforms like Quizlet to drill capitals in a us capitals quiz online format. Studies from the University of California show spaced repetition boosts long-term memory by reviewing items at increasing intervals. This method transforms a name the states and capitals quiz into a confidence-building routine.

  4. Spelling and Rhyme Tricks -

    For tricky names like Pierre (South Dakota) or Jefferson City (Missouri), create a rhyme - "Pierre rhymes with bear" - or visualize two Jeffersons in a city hall. The U.S. National Archives recommends rhymes and alliteration for challenging terms. Once you lock the spelling in mind, you breeze through a state capitals trivia challenge.

  5. Timed Recall Drills -

    Simulate test conditions by setting a 5-minute timer to name as many capitals as possible - a proven technique from educational psychology research. Track your progress over weeks to see accuracy and speed improve. This engaging exercise turns your practice into an effective us states and capitals online quiz experience.

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