List of current and former capital cities within U.S. states
From Academic Kids
Missing imageIndependence_Hall_belltower.jpg This is a list of the current and former national and subnational capitals (legislature or government seat) of states, territories, colonies, or kingdoms located in the United States, organized by current U.S. state location. Washington, D.C., the national capital, is not located in any state; current state capitals are noted in boldface font.
List
| Located in
| Place
| When, Whose
|
Alabama
|
| St. Stephens, Alabama2
| Territorial capital (1817–1819)
|
| Huntsville, Alabama2
| 1819
|
| Cahawba, Alabama2
| 1820–1826
|
| Tuscaloosa, Alabama2
| 1826–1846
|
| Montgomery, Alabama2
| Confederate States national capital (February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861), current state capital
|
Alaska
Missing image
Alaska_state_flag.png
| Sitka, Alaska4
| Russian capital (as New Archangel), military department capital, district capital (—1900 de jure, 1906 de facto)
|
| Juneau, Alaska3
| District capital (1900 de jure, 1906 de facto–1912), territorial capital, current state capital
|
Arizona
| Prescott, Arizona5
| Territorial capital (1864–1867; 1877–1889)
|
| Tucson, Arizona5
| Territorial capital (1867–1877)
|
| Phoenix, Arizona5
| Territorial capital (1889–1912), state capital (1912–current)
|
Arkansas
| Arkansas Post, Arkansas6
| Territorial capital (1819–1821)
|
| Washington, Arkansas6,7
| Confederate state government capital (1863–1865)
|
| Little Rock, Arkansas
| Territorial capital (1821–1836), state capital (1836–current)
|
California
| Monterey, California9
| Capital of Alta and Baja California under Spanish and Mexican rule (1777–1850)
|
| San José, California8
| State capital (1850–1851)
|
| Vallejo, California8
| State capital (1851–1853)
|
| Benicia, California8
| State capital (1853–1854)
|
| Sacramento, California8
| State capital (1854–current)
|
Colorado
| Auraria, Kansas Territory10
| Territory of Jefferson capital (1859–1861)
|
| Colorado City, Colorado10
| Territorial capital, federally unrecognized (1861–1862)
|
| Golden, Colorado10
| Territorial capital (1862–1867)
|
| Denver, Colorado10
| Current state capital
|
Connecticut
| New Haven, Connecticut
| Co-capital with Hartford (1701–1873)
|
| Hartford, Connecticut
| Current
|
Delaware
Missing image
Delaware_state_flag.png
| New Castle, Delaware
| Colonial capital
|
| Dover, Delaware
| Current state capital
|
Florida
Missing image
Florida_state_flag.png
| St. Augustine, Florida28
| Capital of British East Florida, territorial capital (1821–1824, dual capital with Pensacola)
|
| Pensacola, Florida28
| Capital of British West Florida, territorial capital (1821–1824, dual capital with St. Augustine)
|
| Tallahassee, Florida28
| Territorial capital (1824–1845), state capital (1845–current)
|
Georgia
Missing image
Georgia_state_flag.png
| Savannah, Georgia27
| Colonial capital, state capital (1777–1778, 1782, 1784, 1785)
|
| Heard's Fort, Georgia27
| Temporary state capital (1780–1781)
|
| Ebenezer, Georgia27
| Temporary state capital (1782)
|
| Augusta, Georgia27
| State capital (1779–1780, 1781–1784 alternated with Savannah, et al., 1786–1796)
|
| Louisville, Georgia27
| State capital (1796–1806)
|
| Milledgeville, Georgia27
| State capital (1807–1864, 1865–1868)
|
| Macon, Georgia27
| Temporary state capital during American Civil War (1864–1865)
|
| Atlanta, Georgia27
| State capital (1868–current)
|
Hawaii
Missing image
Hawaii_state_flag.png
| Lahaina, Hawaii
| Capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii (—1840)
|
| Honolulu, Hawaii
| Current state capital
|
Idaho
| Lewiston, Idaho15
| Territorial (1863–1864)
|
| Boise, Idaho15
| Territorial capital, current state capital
|
Illinois
| Kaskaskia, Illinois26
| Territorial capital (1809–1818)
|
| Vandalia, Illinois26
| State capital (1819–1839)
|
| Springfield, Illinois26
| State capital (1839–current)
|
Indiana
Missing image
Indiana_state_flag.png
| Vincennes, Indiana
| Territorial capital (1800–1813)
|
| Corydon, Indiana
| 1816–1825
|
| Indianapolis, Indiana
| Current state capital
|
Iowa
| Burlington, Iowa21
| Wisconsin Territory capital (1837–1838), top-gap territorial capital 1838–1841
|
| Iowa City, Iowa21
| Territorial, first state (1841–1857)
|
| Des Moines, Iowa21
| Current state capital
|
Kansas
| Pawnee near Fort Riley, Kansas19
| Territorial capital (1855)
|
| Lecompton, Kansas
| Territorial capital for pro-slavery government
|
| Topeka, Kansas19
| Territorial capital (1859–1861 under Wyandotte constitution), state capital (1861–current)
|
Kentucky
| Danville, Kentucky
| Capital of Virginia's Kentucky District
|
| Bowling Green, Kentucky
| Capital of the state's Confederate government
|
| Frankfort, Kentucky
| Current state capital
|
Louisiana
Missing image
Louisiana_state_flag.png
| New Orleans, Louisiana
| 1812–1830, 1831–1841, 1865–1880
|
| Donaldsonville, Louisiana
| 1830
|
| Opelousas, Louisiana
| 1862 in war
|
| Shreveport, Louisiana
| 1863
|
| Baton Rouge, Louisiana
| Current state capital
|
Maine
| Portland, Maine25
| State capital (1820–1827 de jure, 1832 de facto)
|
| Augusta, Maine25
| State capital (1827 de jure, 1832 de facto–current)
|
Maryland
| St. Mary's City, Maryland
| Colonial capital ( —1694)
|
| Baltimore, Maryland1
| U.S. national capital (1776–1777)
|
| Annapolis, Maryland1
| Current state capital (initially named Anne Arundel Town), U.S. national capital (1783–1784)
|
Massachusetts
Missing image
Massachusetts_state_flag.png
| Boston, Massachusetts
| Massachusetts Bay Colony capital, current state capital (1630—)
|
Michigan
| Detroit, Michigan23
| Territorial capital (1805–1837, occupied by British forces 1812–1813), first state capital (1837–1847)
|
| Lansing, Michigan23
| State capital (1847–current)
|
Minnesota
| Saint Paul, Minnesota14
| Territorial capital (1849–1858), state capital (1858–current)
|
Mississippi
| Natchez, Mississippi20
| Territorial capital (1798–1802)
|
| Washington, Mississippi20
| Territorial capital (1802–1817)
|
| Natchez, Mississippi20
| State capital (1817–1821)
|
| Jackson, Mississippi20
| State capital (renamed from LeFleur's Bluff, 1821–current)
|
Missouri
Missing image
Missouri_state_flag.png
| St. Louis, Missouri
| Territorial capital
|
| Saint Charles, Missouri
| 1821–1825
|
| Jefferson City, Missouri
| Current state capital
|
Montana
| Bannack, Montana22
| Territorial capital (1864–1865)
|
| Virginia City, Montana22
| Territorial capital (1865–1875)
|
| Helena, Montana22
| Territorial capital (1875–1889), state capital (1889–current)
|
Nebraska
| Omaha, Nebraska
| Territorial capital
|
| Lincoln, Nebraska
| Current state capital
|
Nevada
| Carson City, Nevada12
| Territorial capital, current state capital
|
New Hampshire
| Portsmouth, New Hampshire17
| Colonial, state ( —1808)
|
| Exeter, New Hampshire
| Revolutionary War capital
|
| Concord, New Hampshire16
| Current state capital
|
New Jersey
| Elizabethtown, New Jersey
| Colonial capital (—1686)
|
| Princeton, New Jersey1
| U.S. national capital (1783)
|
| Trenton, New Jersey1
| U.S. national capital (1784), current state capital
|
New Mexico
| Mesilla, New Mexico
| Capital of Confederate Arizona Territory
|
| Santa Fe, New Mexico
| Current state capital
|
New York
| New York, New York
| Colonial, under British rule (1664–1777), U.S. national capital (1785–1790), state capital (1789–1797)
|
| Kingston, New York
| (1777)
|
| Hurley, New York
| (Oct–Dec 1777)
|
| Poughkeepsie
| (~1777)
|
| Albany, New York
| Current state capital
|
North Carolina
| Charlestown, Carolina
| Early colonial, before division of Carolina
|
| New Bern, North Carolina
| —1794
|
| Raleigh, North Carolina
| Current state capital
|
North Dakota
| Bismarck, North Dakota
| Dakota territorial (1883–1889), current state capital
|
Ohio
| Chillicothe, Ohio
| 1803–1810, 1812–1816
|
| Zanesville, Ohio
| 1810–1812
|
| Columbus, Ohio
| Current state capital
|
Oklahoma
| Tahlequah, Oklahoma
| Cherokee Nation capital
|
| Ninih Waiya
| Choctaw Nation capital
|
| Tishomingo, Oklahoma
| Chickasaw Nation capital
|
| Tuskahoma
| Choctaw Nation capital
|
| Okmulgee, Oklahoma
| Creek Nation capital
|
| Wewoka, Oklahoma
| Seminole Nation capital
|
| Guthrie, Oklahoma
| Territorial capital 1889–1910
|
| Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| Current state capital
|
Oregon
| Oregon City, Oregon
| Territorial capital (1848–1851)
|
| Corvallis, Oregon
| Territorial capital (1855)
|
| Salem, Oregon
| Current state capital
|
Pennsylvania
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania1
| Colonial capital, first state capital ( —1799), U.S. national capital (1776, 1777, 1778–1783, 1790–1800)
|
| Lancaster, Pennsylvania1
| U.S. national capital (1777), state capital 1799–1812
|
| York, Pennsylvania1
| U.S. national capital (1777–1778)
|
| Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
| Current state capital
|
Rhode Island
| Providence, Rhode Island
| Current state capital
|
South Carolina
| Charleston, South Carolina
| Was early colonial Charlestown, Carolina
|
| Columbia, South Carolina
| Current state capital
|
South Dakota
| Yankton, South Dakota
| Dakota territorial (1861–1883)
|
| Pierre, South Dakota
| Current state capital
|
Tennessee
| Knoxville, Tennessee24
| Southwest Territory capital (first called White's Fort, 1791–1796), state capital (1796–1812, 1817)
|
| Murfreesboro, Tennessee24
| State capital (1818–1826)
|
| Nashville, Tennessee24
| State capital (1812–1817, 1826–current)
|
Texas
| Washington, Texas
| First capital of the Republic of Texas, today called Washington-on-the-Brazos
|
| Marshall, Texas
| Civil War Capital of exiled pro-Confederate state officials and ousted Governor of Missouri
|
| Galveston, Texas
| Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas
|
| Harrisburg, Texas
| Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas
|
| Velasco, Texas
| Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas
|
| Columbia, Texas
| Temporary capital of the Republic of Texas, today called West Columbia
|
| Houston, Texas
| Capital of the Republic of Texas from 1837 to 1839
|
| Austin, Texas
| Current state capital (initially named Waterloo; changed in 1839)
|
Utah
| Fillmore, Utah
| Territorial capital
|
| Salt Lake City, Utah
| Current state capital
|
Vermont
| Windsor, Vermont
| Early meeting place for independent Vermont legislature
|
| Montpelier, Vermont13
| State capital (1805–current)
|
Virginia
Missing image
Virginia_state_flag.png
| Jamestown, Virginia
| First Colonial capital
|
| Williamsburg, Virginia
| Second colonial capital (initially Middle Plantation)
|
| Yorktown, Virginia
| Third colonial capital
|
| Danville, Virginia
| Confederate States national capital (April 3, 1865–April 10, 1865)
|
| Richmond, Virginia
| Confederate States national capital (May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865), current state capital
|
Washington
Missing image
Washington_state_flag.png
| Olympia, Washington11
| Territorial, current
|
West Virginia
| Wheeling, West Virginia
| First state capital, 1863–1870, and again 1875–1885
|
| Charleston, West Virginia
| State capital, 1870–1875, 1885–present
|
Wisconsin
| Belmont, Wisconsin
| Territorial capital
|
| Madison, Wisconsin
| Current state capital
|
Wyoming
| Cheyenne, Wyoming18
| Territorial capital (1869–1890), state capital (1890–current)
|
Sources
- 1: United States Senate Historical Office, "U.S. Senate: Reference Home > The Nine Capitals of the United States," viewed 9 June 2005; based on Fortenbaugh, Robert, The Nine Capitals of the United States, York, PA: Maple Press, 1948. (http://www.senate.gov/reference/reference_item/Nine_Capitals_of_the_United_States.htm)
- 2: Alabama Department of Archives and History, "ADAH: Capitals of Alabama," updated 29 Oct 2001, viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.archives.state.al.us/capital/capitals.html)
- 3: SLED: Statewide Library Electronic Doorway, "FAQ ALASKA - Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska," updated 21 Sept 2004, viewed 9 June 2005; based on Alaska Blue Book 1993-94, 11th ed., Juneau, Department of Education, Division of State Libraries, Archives & Museums. (http://sled.alaska.edu/akfaq/akchron.html)
- 4: Department of Community and Economic Development Alaska Community Database Online, "ExploreNorth: The History of Sitka," viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.explorenorth.com/library/communities/alaska/bl-Sitka.htm)
- 5: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, "Capitals before the Capitol," viewed 9 June 2005. (http://azcapitol.lib.az.us/before_capitol.htm)
- 6: Arkansas Secretary of State, "Arkansas Secretary of State: Educational Materials: Facts," viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/educational_facts.html)
- 7: Confederate Capital Old Division of State Parks, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, "Washington State Park 19th century village in SW Arkansas," created 2003, viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/oldwashingtonhistoric)
- 8: California State Library, "Previous Capitals of California," updated 27 Nov 2000, viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.library.ca.gov/history/previous-ca-capitals.cfm)
- 9: Historic Monterey, "Historic Timeline," created 2005, viewed viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.historicmonterey.org/?p=historic_timeline)
- 10: Colorado State Archives, "Colorado State Capitol Virtual Tour Early Capitol and Legislative Assembly Locations," updated 20 June 2003, viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/cap/locate.htm)
- 11: Official City of Olympia Web Site, "The History of Olympia," viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.ci.olympia.wa.us/information/history.asp)
- 12: Rocha, Guy "Nevada State Archives Historical Myth a Month Myth #28, Las Vegas: Nevada's Next State Capital?," updated 14 July 2003, viewed 9 June 2005; originally published as Sierra Sage, Carson City/Carson Valley, Nevada, May 1998 edition. (http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/nsla/archives/myth/myth28.htm)
- 13: Vermont Historical Society, "Early History of Montpelier, Vermont," viewed 9 June 2005; adapted from Esther Munroe Swift, Vermont Place-Names: Footprints of History, 1977, 1996, and Montpelier Heritage Group, Three Walking Tours of Montpelier, Vt., 1991. (http://www.vermonthistory.org/links/monthist.htm)
- 14: City of St. Paul, Minnesota, "Saint Paul’s 150th birthday," viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.stpaul.gov/leisure/history/stpaul150.html)
- 15: Idaho Office of the Governor, "Chronological History of Idaho," created 2000, viewed 9 June 2005. (http://gov.idaho.gov/fyi/history/1863-89.htm)
- 16: New Hampshire General Court, "New Hampshire Senate Page For Kids," viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/senate/misc/kids.html)
- 17: New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources, "New Hampshire History in Brief," created 1989, viewed 9 June 2005. (http://www.nh.gov/markers/brief.html)
- 18: Saban, Mary Thompson, "Wyoming Sage: Brief History of Wyoming," updated 17 Jan 2004, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~sabthomp/wyoming/wysage.htm)
- 19: Harding, Eldon, "Stories from the Kansas State Capital: Choosing a Capital City--Why Topeka?" Kansas State Historical Society, April 2001, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://www.kshs.org/features/feat401j.htm)
- 20: Bunn, Mike and Clay Williams, "Capitals and Capitols: The Places and Spaces of Mississippi's Seat of Government," Mississippi History Now (Mississippi Historical Society Online), posted September 2003, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://mshistory.k12.ms.us/features/feature44/capitals_capitols.html)
- 21: Sabin, Henry, "Making of Iowa, Chapter 24: Locating a Capital," originally published 1900 by A. Flanagan Co. of Chicago and New York, published online by Iowa History Project, posted 25 Aug 2004, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://iagenweb.org/history/moi/moi24.htm)
- 22: Lambert, Kirby, "Montana's crown jewel of architecture: The Montana state capitol," Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Montana Historical Society, originally published summer 2002, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://www.gradewinner.com/p/articles/mi_qa3951/is_200207/ai_n9146543)
- 23: "Michigan in Brief," Official State of Michigan website, updated 7 Mar 2005, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-15481_20826_20829-56001--,00.html)
- 24: "Capital Cities," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, posted 2002, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://160.36.208.47/FMPro?-db=tnencyc&-format=tdetail.htm&-lay=web&entryid=C028&-find=)
- 25: "Students Questions Frequently Ask," Maine State Senate website, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://www.state.me.us/legis/senate/about/generalinfo/Students/questions_students_ask-1.htm)
- 26: "Past Capitols," (note: copied from the 1975-1976 Illinois Bluebook), ilstatehouse.com, created 5 Mar 2005, viewed 10 June 2005. (http://www.ilstatehouse.com/PastCapitols.htm)
- 27: Jackson, Edwin L., "Story of Georgia's Capitols and Capital Cities," Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia, 1988 (http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/capital.htm)
- 28: Florida State History, Florida Division of Historical Resources (http://www.shgresources.com/fl/history/)
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