State Capitals Quiz

Knowing the capitals of all 50 US states is a classic test of American geography knowledge. While many people know that Sacramento is California's capital and Austin is Texas's, plenty of capitals are surprising - Springfield rather than Chicago for Illinois, Albany rather than New York City for New York, and Juneau for Alaska (a city only accessible by plane or boat, since no roads connect it to the rest of the state). Learning state capitals is not just a school exercise - It reveals fascinating things about American history, politics, and geography.

Why Many State Capitals Are Surprising

Most state capitals were chosen for reasons of geographic centrality, political compromise, or historical accident rather than because they were the largest or most prominent cities. Many capitals were established in the 18th or 19th century when the interior of states was more important to settle and govern. Over time, major cities like Boston (Massachusetts), Denver (Colorado), and Nashville (Tennessee) kept their capital status while their cities grew into major metropolitan areas. But in states like New York, California, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, a different city grew larger than the capital. Check out our geography quiz for more!

Memorizing all 50 state capitals is a satisfying challenge that tests both memory and geographic reasoning. A few tips: New England states generally have their largest city as the capital (Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Burlington, VT area - Though actually Montpelier). The Midwest and South have many surprises. The West has some of the most remote and unexpected capitals. Whether you're studying for a test, playing trivia, or just want to expand your knowledge, this state capitals quiz will put you to the test! Try our American history quiz for more US knowledge.