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Quizzes > Geography > Countries & Cities

Test Your Knowledge of US Capitals in the Midwest Region

Think you can name all Midwest states and capitals? Dive in now!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Midwest Region US capitals quiz on sky blue background

This quiz helps you practice US capitals in the Midwest region and see which ones you can recall fast. Answer a mix of multiple-choice and type-in items, learn a few facts, and spot gaps before a class, trivia, or a trip. When you finish, use the interactive map of the Midwest to review any you missed.

What is the capital of Illinois?
Chicago
Naperville
Peoria
Springfield
Springfield has been Illinois' capital since 1839 after legislators moved the seat to a more central location. It was named after Springfield, Massachusetts, by social activist Vachel Lindsay. The capital city is also known as the home of Abraham Lincoln before his presidency. For more details, see .
What is the capital of Iowa?
Des Moines
Cedar Rapids
Davenport
Sioux City
Des Moines has been the capital of Iowa since 1857 and is located at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. It became the state capital due to its central location and growing population. The city name comes from the French 'Riviere des Moines'. See more at .
What is the capital of Ohio?
Akron
Cleveland
Columbus
Cincinnati
Columbus was selected as Ohio's state capital in 1816 due to its central location and population growth. It was named in honor of Christopher Columbus. Today, Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and a major hub for education and technology. For more information, see .
What is the capital of Michigan?
Lansing
Ann Arbor
Grand Rapids
Detroit
Lansing became Michigan's capital in 1847, chosen to spur development away from Detroit. The city was only a village at the time. Lansing's selection helped open the interior of Michigan for settlement. Read more at .
What is the capital of Minnesota?
Duluth
Rochester
Minneapolis
Saint Paul
Saint Paul has been Minnesota's capital since 1849 when the territory was established. It is known as the "Saintly City" and is part of the Twin Cities region with Minneapolis. Saint Paul's name honors Paul the Apostle. More details at .
What is the capital of Wisconsin?
Milwaukee
Green Bay
Eau Claire
Madison
Madison was selected as Wisconsin's capital in 1836, named after President James Madison. It is situated between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. Madison is also home to the University of Wisconsin. See for more information.
What is the capital of Kansas?
Overland Park
Kansas City
Wichita
Topeka
Topeka became Kansas's capital in 1856 due to its central location. The name means "a good place to grow potatoes" in the Kansa language. Topeka was a key site during the Civil War and the fight over slavery. More details at .
What is the capital of Indiana?
South Bend
Evansville
Indianapolis
Fort Wayne
Indianapolis was founded and chosen as Indiana's new capital in 1820 to provide a central location for governance. The city's name is a blend of "Indiana" and the Greek word "polis," meaning city. It has grown to be the state's largest city. Read more at .
Which Midwest capital is located on the Missouri River?
Jefferson City
Bismarck
Pierre
Lincoln
Jefferson City, Missouri's capital, sits on the southern bank of the Missouri River. It was strategically chosen for its river access to facilitate commerce and transport. The city was named after Thomas Jefferson. More at .
Which of these Midwest capitals is the westernmost?
Lincoln
Jefferson City
Bismarck
Pierre
Bismarck, North Dakota's capital, lies at approximately 100.78°W longitude, making it the westernmost of the Midwest state capitals. Pierre (100.35°W) and Lincoln (96.68°W) lie further east. For additional geography details, see .
Which capital is situated on the Des Moines River?
Des Moines
Madison
Jefferson City
Lansing
Des Moines, Iowa's capital, lies at the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. The city's name comes directly from the river it sits on. It has been the state capital since 1857. Learn more at .
Which is the smallest state capital by population in the Midwest region?
Jefferson City
Lincoln
Bismarck
Pierre
Pierre, South Dakota's capital, has a population of around 14,000, making it the least populous capital in the Midwest region. Jefferson City, Bismarck, and Lincoln all have significantly larger populations. For census data, visit .
Which of these capital city names derives from a French term meaning "of the monks"?
Des Moines
Lansing
Madison
Saint Paul
"Des Moines" comes from the French phrase "Riviere des Moines," meaning "River of the Monks." Early French explorers named it after indigenous Trappist monks in the area. Saint Paul, Lansing, and Madison have English or other European origins. See .
The capital of Ohio, Columbus, honors which historical figure?
John Cabot
Amerigo Vespucci
Christopher Columbus
Ferdinand Magellan
Columbus, Ohio, was named in honor of the explorer Christopher Columbus when the city was laid out in 1812. The name reflected a popular fascination with the age of exploration. Amerigo Vespucci and the others were famed explorers but not the city's namesake. Read more at .
Which capital's name honors the fourth President of the United States?
Jefferson City
Madison
Jackson
Lincoln
Madison, Wisconsin's capital, was named in honor of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. Jackson is the capital of Mississippi, Jefferson City is named for Thomas Jefferson, and Lincoln honors Abraham Lincoln. More history at .
Which Midwest capital's state capitol building features the largest self-supporting stone dome in the world?
Des Moines
Indianapolis
Springfield
Madison
The Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison boasts the world's largest self-supporting stone dome, completed in 1917. Its dome rises 284 feet high, surpassing other state capitols. The building's design is Beaux-Arts style by architect George B. Post. Learn more at .
Which Midwest capital is the northernmost in terms of latitude?
Des Moines
Bismarck
Saint Paul
Madison
Bismarck, North Dakota's capital, sits at approximately 46.8°N latitude, making it the northernmost of the Midwest capitals. Saint Paul is at 44.9°N, Madison 43.1°N, and Des Moines 41.6°N. Detailed geographic data is available at .
Which capital city lies closest to Lake Michigan?
Lansing
Madison
Indianapolis
Columbus
Madison is about 77 miles west of Lake Michigan, closer than Lansing (about 85 miles) and much nearer than Indianapolis or Columbus. Its proximity impacts regional climate and commerce. For map distances, see .
Which capital lies nearest to the geographic center of the contiguous United States?
Lincoln
Jefferson City
Des Moines
Topeka
The geographic center of the lower 48 states is near Lebanon, Kansas. Topeka, the Kansas capital, is roughly 65 miles east of that point, closer than Lincoln, Des Moines, or Jefferson City. See center details at .
Which capital has the tallest state capitol building by architectural height?
Springfield
Columbus
Madison
Des Moines
Springfield's Illinois State Capitol stands at 361 feet tall, making it the tallest by architectural height among Midwest state capitols. Columbus follows with 345 feet, Madison with 284 feet, and Des Moines with 275 feet. For building specs, see .
Which Midwest capital is home to the largest university campus by enrollment?
Des Moines
Madison
Columbus
Lansing
Columbus, Ohio, is home to The Ohio State University, which has one of the largest single-campus enrollments in the U.S., exceeding 60,000 students. Madison's University of Wisconsin is large but smaller in enrollment. Learn more at .
Which capital was originally called "Pig's Eye" after a French fur trader's nickname?
Des Moines
Indianapolis
Saint Paul
Lansing
Saint Paul was first known as "Pig's Eye" for Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant, a French-Canadian settler and trader. The name was changed when parish priest Lucien Galtier established a chapel named "Saint Paul." More history at .
Which Midwest capital is the only one not served by any Interstate Highway?
Pierre
Lincoln
Des Moines
Madison
Pierre, South Dakota's capital, is unique as the only U.S. state capital not directly served by an Interstate Highway. The nearest Interstate (I-90) is about 34 miles south in Mitchell. Most other capitals are on or adjacent to an Interstate. See .
Which state's capitol building in the Midwest is a National Historic Landmark recognized for its Beaux-Arts architecture completed in 1917?
Iowa
Michigan
Missouri
Wisconsin
The Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, completed in 1917, is a National Historic Landmark noted for its Beaux-Arts architecture designed by Elijah E. Myers. Wisconsin's capitol (Madison) is also Beaux-Arts but was designated later; Lansing's is the NHL. More at .
Which capital was relocated in 1846 due to repeated flooding and moved upriver to its current site?
Iowa City
Jefferson City
Springfield
Des Moines
Des Moines became Iowa's capital in 1857, but the territory's first capital, Iowa City, faced severe flooding. In 1846 the government moved upriver to higher ground, and later Des Moines was selected for the permanent site. More historical detail at .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Midwest Capitals -

    Recall the capital cities of each state in the US Midwest region, solidifying your knowledge of midwest and capitals.

  2. Analyze Geographic Distribution -

    Understand how each capital is positioned within the midwest region with capitals to better visualize state boundaries and regional layout.

  3. Differentiate Similar Names -

    Distinguish between states with potentially confusing capitals by focusing on unique historical and cultural associations.

  4. Apply Memory Strategies -

    Use effective mnemonic techniques to enhance recall of states and capitals for the midwest region during trivia or study sessions.

  5. Evaluate Quiz Performance -

    Assess your strengths and areas for improvement with immediate feedback from our midwest states and capitals quiz.

  6. Build Confidence Under Pressure -

    Develop quick-recall skills for naming US capitals in the midwest region, preparing you for timed tests or competitions.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Mapping the Midwest Region: States and Capitals -

    Start by memorizing all 12 us capitals in the midwest region alongside their states - Illinois (Springfield), Indiana (Indianapolis), Iowa (Des Moines), Kansas (Topeka), Michigan (Lansing), Minnesota (Saint Paul), Missouri (Jefferson City), Nebraska (Lincoln), North Dakota (Bismarck), Ohio (Columbus), South Dakota (Pierre), and Wisconsin (Madison). Visualizing these on a map from the US Census Bureau can reinforce your spatial memory and help you see patterns across the midwest region with capitals.

  2. Alphabetical Anchors for Easy Recall -

    Organize the midwest and capitals list alphabetically by state or capital to create mental "anchor points" that guide you through each quiz question. For example, start with Columbus (Ohio) and end with Topeka (Kansas), reciting the sequence out loud to build a reliable retrieval path.

  3. Mnemonic Mastery: I³ and Beyond -

    Group the three "I" states - Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa - and use the phrase "Spring in Indy's Des Moines" to remember Springfield, Indianapolis, and Des Moines in order. Extending similar catchy lines for other clusters (like "Lincoln's Law in Nebraska") helps you tackle the states-and-capitals-for-the-midwest-region in bite-sized chunks.

  4. Landmark Linkages for Deeper Memory -

    Associate each capital with a famous local landmark: picture the Ohio Statehouse when you think Columbus or recall the Brown v. Board museum when you land on Topeka. This multi-sensory approach connects facts to vivid imagery, turning abstract names into memorable mental scenes.

  5. Spaced Repetition and Active Recall -

    Create digital or paper flashcards for each state-capital pair and quiz yourself at increasing intervals - day one, day three, day seven, etc. - to boost long-term retention. Mixing in map-labeling exercises and timed online quizzes ensures you stay sharp and confident every time you test us capitals in the midwest region.

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