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List of capitals in the United States

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Mike Beidler (talk | contribs) at 10:05, 26 August 2006 (Added more comprehensive dates to national capital locations). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital.

This is a list of current and former national and subnational capital cities in the United States, which includes the legislature or seat of government of all states, territories, colonies, or kingdoms that are or were located in the United States, organized by current U.S. state location.

National capitals

United States of America

Washington, D.C. has been the national capital of the United States since 1800.

From 1774 to 1800, Congress met in numerous locations; as such, the following cities can be said to have once been the United States capital[1]:

Under the First Continental Congress

Under the Second Continental Congress

Under the Articles of Confederation

Under the Constitution

Confederate States of America

The Confederate States of America had three capitals during its existence.

Republic of Texas

Before joining the United States in 1845, Texas was an independent nation known as the Republic of Texas. Seven cities served as its capital:

Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii

Prior to becoming a territory of the United States in 1898, Hawaii was an independent nation. Two cities served as its capital:

State capitals

  • Each of the current state capitals is marked in bold.
  • Territorial capitals (prior to statehood) are marked in italics.
  • The year listed for each city is the starting date; the ending date is the starting date for the successor unless otherwise indicated.
State Capital Date Notes
Alabama[2]
Statehood in 1819 		St. Stephens 1817 Alabama Territory capital
Huntsville 1819 State capital
Cahawba 1820
Tuscaloosa 1826
Montgomery 1846 State capital; Confederate national capital briefly during 1861
Alaska[3]
Statehood in 1959 		Sitka 1808 Russian Alaska capital (as New Archangel)
1867 Department of Alaska capital
1900 District of Alaska capitals
Juneau 1906
1959 State capital
Arizona[4]
Statehood in 1912 		Prescott 1864 Arizona Territory capitals
Tucson 1867
Prescott 1877
Phoenix 1889
1912 State capital
Arkansas[5]
Statehood in 1836 		Arkansas Post 1819 Arkansas Territory capitals
Little Rock 1821
1836 State capital; during 1861-1863, Washington was the Confederate state government capital
California[6]
Statehood in 1850 		Monterey 1777 Alta and Baja California capital under Spanish and Mexican rule
San José 1850 State capitals
Vallejo 1851
Benicia 1853
Sacramento 1854
San Francisco 1866
Sacramento 1867
Colorado[7]
Statehood in 1876 		Auraria 1859 Territory of Jefferson capital
Colorado City 1861 Colorado Territory capital, federally unrecognized
Golden 1862 Colorado Territory capitals
Denver 1867
1876 State capital
Connecticut
Statehood in 1776 		New Haven 1701 Colonial capital
1776 State capitals
Hartford 1873
Delaware
Statehood in 1776 		New Castle 1704 Delaware colony capital
Dover 1777 State capital
Florida[8]
Statehood in 1845 		St. Augustine 1565 Spanish Florida colonial capital
1821 Florida Territory capital; British East Florida capital
Pensacola Florida Territory capital; British West Florida capital
Tallahassee 1824 Florida Territory capital
1845 State capital
Georgia[9]
Statehood in 1776 		Savannah 1733 Georgia colony capital
1777 State capitals
Augustana 1779
Heard's Fort 1780
Augustana 1781
Savannah 1782
Ebenezer 1782
Savannah 1784
Augustana 1786
Louisville 1796
Milledgeville 1807
Macon 1864
Milledgeville 1865
Atlanta 1868
Hawaii
Statehood in 1959 		Lahaina 1820 Kingdom of Hawaii capital
Honolulu 1845
1894 Republic of Hawaii capital
1898 Hawaii Territory capital
1959 State capital
Idaho[10]
Statehood in 1890 		Lewiston 1863 Idaho Territory capitals
Boise 1864
1890 State capital
Illinois[11]
Statehood in 1818 		Kaskaskia 1809 Illinois Territory capital
Vandalia 1819 State capitals
Springfield 1839
Indiana
Statehood in 1816 		Vincennes 1800 Indiana Territory capitals
Corydon 1813
1816 State capitals
Indianapolis 1825
Iowa[12]
Statehood in 1846 		Burlington 1837 Wisconsin Territory capital
1838 Iowa Territory capitals
Iowa City 1841
1846 State capitals
Des Moines 1857
Kansas[13]
Statehood in 1861 		Pawnee 1855 Kansas Territory capital (July 2-6); in present Fort Riley
Shawnee Mission 1855 Kansas Territory capital; in present Fairway, Kansas
Lecompton 1856 Official (pro-slavery) Kansas Territory capital
Topeka Unofficial capital
Topeka 1861 State capital
Kentucky[14]
Statehood in 1792 		Danville 1780 Virginia's Kentucky District capital
Bowling Green 1861 Confederate state government capital, November, 1861 to February, 1862
Frankfort 1792 State capital
Louisiana
Statehood in 1812[15] 		Mobile Bay 1702 French colonial capitals
Biloxi 1720
New Orleans 1722 French and Spanish colonial capital
1803 Orleans Territory capital
1812 State capitals
Donaldsonville 1830
New Orleans 1831
Baton Rouge 1849
Opelousas 1862
Shreveport 1863
New Orleans 1865
Baton Rouge 1880
Maine[16]
Statehood in 1820 		Portland 1820 State capitals de jure
Augusta 1827
Portland 1832 State capital de facto
Augusta 1832 State capital
Maryland[17]
Statehood in 1776 		St. Mary's City 1634 Province of Maryland capital
Annapolis 1694 Province of Maryland capital; previously named Anne Arundel Town
1777 State capital; U.S. national capital (1783 - 1784)
Massachusetts
Statehood in 1776 		Boston 1630 Massachusetts Bay Colony capital
1776 State capital
Michigan[18]
Statehood in 1837 		Detroit 1805 Michigan Territory capital; occupied by British forces 1812 - 1813
1837 State capitals
Lansing 1847
Minnesota[19]
Statehood in 1858 		Saint Paul 1849 Minnesota Territory capital
1858 State capital
Mississippi[20]
Statehood in 1817 		Natchez 1798 Mississippi Territory capitals
Washington 1802
Natchez 1817 State capitals
Jackson 1821
Missouri
Statehood in 1821 		St. Louis 1765 French colonial capital
1804 Missouri Territory capital
Saint Charles 1821 State capital until 1825
Marshall, Texas   Exiled pro-Confederate Missouri government capital
Jefferson City 1826 State capital
Montana[21]
Statehood in 1889 		Bannack 1864 Montana Territory capital
Virginia City 1865
Helena 1875
1889 State capital
Nebraska
Statehood in 1867 		Omaha 1854 Nebraska Territory capital
Lincoln 1867 State capital
Nevada[22]
Statehood in 1864 		Carson City 1861 Territorial capital
1864 State capital
New Hampshire[23]
Statehood in 1776 		Portsmouth 1679 Province of New Hampshire capital
Exeter 1775 Revolutionary War capital
1776 State capitals
Concord 1808
New Jersey
Statehood in 1776 		Elizabethtown 1686 Province of New Jersey; now named Elizabeth
Princeton 1783 State capital; U.S. national capital
Trenton 1784 State capital; U.S. national capital
New Mexico
Statehood in 1912 		Santa Fe 1598 Provincial capital of New Spain
1821 Mexican territorial capital
1850 New Mexico Territory capital
Mesilla   Confederate Arizona Territory capital, 1861-1865
Santa Fe 1912 State capital
New York
Statehood in 1776 		New York 1664 Province of New York under British rule
Kingston 1777 State capitals
Hurley 1777
Poughkeepsie 1777
New York 1789 State capital; U.S. national capital 1785 – 1788, 1789 – 1790
Albany 1797 State capital
North Carolina
Statehood in 1776 		Charlestown 1670 Colonial capitals
New Bern 1712
1776 State capitals
Raleigh 1794
North Dakota
Statehood in 1889 		Yankton 1861 Dakota Territory capital; now part of South Dakota
Bismarck 1883 Dakota Territory capital
1889 State capital
Ohio
Statehood in 1803 		Marietta 1788 Northwest Territory capitals
Chillicothe 1800
1803 State capitals
Zanesville 1810
Chillicothe 1812
Columbus 1816
Oklahoma
Statehood in 1907 		Tahlequah 1838 Cherokee capital
Tuskahoma 1838 Choctaw capital
Tishomingo 1855 Chickasaw capital
Wewoka 1866 Seminole capital
Okmulgee 1867 Creek capital
Guthrie 1889 Oklahoma Territory capital
Oklahoma City 1910 State capital
Oregon[24]
Statehood in 1859 		Fort Vancouver 1825 Oregon Country capital de facto
Oregon City 1848 Oregon Territory capitals
Salem 1851
Corvallis 1855
Salem 1855
Salem 1859 State capital
Pennsylvania[25]
Statehood in 1776 		Philadelphia 1682 Province of Pennsylvania capital
1776 State capital; U.S. national capital 1776, 1777, 1778-1783, 1790-1800
Lancaster 1799 State capital; U.S. national capital 1777
York   U.S. national capital 1777-1778
Harrisburg 1812 State capital
Rhode Island
Statehood in 1776 		Providence 1776 State capital
South Carolina
Statehood in 1776 		Charlestown 1670 Colonial capital
1776 State capitals
Columbia 1786
South Dakota
Statehood in 1889 		Yankton 1861 Dakota Territory capital
Bismarck 1883 Dakota Territory capital; now capital of North Dakota
Pierre 1889 State capital
Tennessee[26]
Statehood in 1796 		Rocky Mount 1790 Southwest Territory capital
Knoxville 1791 Southwest Territory capital; formerly White's Fort
1796 State capital
Kingston   State capital for one day in 1807 to fulfill treaty obligations with the Cherokee
Nashville 1812 State capitals
Murfreesboro 1818
Nashville 1826
Texas
Statehood in 1845 		Los Adaes 1721 Colonial capital; now part of Louisiana
San Antonio de Bexar 1772 Colonial capital; now San Antonio
Saltillo 1824 Coahuila y Tejas capitals
Monclova 1833
Washington 1836 Republic of Texas capital; now Washington-on-the-Brazos
Galveston 1836 Temporary Republic of Texas capitals
Harrisburg 1836
Velasco 1836
Columbia 1836
Houston 1837 Republic of Texas capital
Austin 1839 Republic of Texas capital; named Waterloo until 1839
1845 State capital
Utah
Statehood in 1896 		Fillmore 1850 Utah Territory capitals
Salt Lake City 1858
1896 State capital
Vermont[27]
Statehood in 1791 		Windsor 1777 Vermont Republic capital
1791 State capitals
Montpelier 1805
Virginia[28]
Statehood in 1776 		Jamestown 1619 Virginia Colony capital
Williamsburg 1699 Virginia Colony capital; originally Middle Plantation
1776 State capital
Richmond 1780 State capital
Richmond 1861 Confederate States national capital, May 29, 1861 – April 9, 1865
Danville 1865 Confederate States national capital, April 3, 1865 – April 10, 1865
Richmond 1865 State capital
Washington[29]
Statehood in 1889 		Fort Vancouver 1825 Oregon Country capital de facto
Oregon City 1848 Oregon Territory capitals
Salem 1851
Olympia 1853 Washington Territory capital
1889 State capital
West Virginia
Statehood in 1863 		Wheeling 1863 State capitals
Charleston 1870
Wheeling 1875
Charleston 1885
Wisconsin[30]
Statehood in 1848 		Belmont 1836 Wisconsin Territory capital
Burlington 1837 Wisconsin Territory capital, now part of Iowa
Madison 1838 Wisconsin Territory capital
1848 State capital
Wyoming[31]
Statehood in 1890 		Cheyenne 1869 Wyoming Territory capital
1890 State capital

References

  1. ^ The Nine Capitals of the United States. United States Senate Historical Office. Accessed June 9, 2005. Based on Fortenbaugh, Robert, The Nine Capitals of the United States, York, PA: Maple Press, 1948.
  2. ^ Capitals of Alabama. Alabama Department of Archives and History. Updated October 29, 2001. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  3. ^ Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska. Statewide Library Electronic Doorway. Updated September 21, 2004. Accessed June 9, 2005; based on Alaska Blue Book 1993-94, 11th ed., Juneau, Department of Education, Division of State Libraries, Archives & Museums. ExploreNorth: The History of Sitka. Department of Community and Economic Development, Alaska Community Database Online. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  4. ^ Capitals before the Capitol. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  5. ^ Educational Materials: Facts. Arkansas Secretary of State. Accessed June 9, 2005. Washington State Park 19th century village in SW Arkansas. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, Confederate Capital Old Division of State Parks. 2003. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  6. ^ Previous Capitals of California. California State Library. Updated November 27, 2000. Accessed June 9, 2005. Historic Timeline. Historic Monterey. Created 2005. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  7. ^ Early Capitol and Legislative Assembly Locations Colorado State Archives, Colorado State Capitol Virtual Tour. Updated June 20, 2003. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  8. ^ Florida State History. Florida Division of Historical Resources.
  9. ^ Jackson, Edwin L. Story of Georgia's Capitols and Capital Cities. Carl Vinson Institute of Government. University of Georgia. 1988
  10. ^ Chronological History of Idaho. Idaho Office of the Governor. Created 2000. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  11. ^ Past Capitols; based on Illinois Bluebook, 1975-1976. Created March 5, 2005. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  12. ^ 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 August 25, 2004. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  13. ^ Harding, Eldon. Stories from the Kansas State Capital: Choosing a Capital City--Why Topeka?. Kansas State Historical Society. April 2001. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  14. ^ Kentucky's State Capitols. Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed July 24, 2006.
  15. ^ Note: The Louisiana Capitals information may be incorrect or incomplete. See http://www.state.la.us/about_history2.htm and elsewhere.
  16. ^ Students Questions Frequently Ask. Maine State Senate. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  17. ^ Historical Chronology. Maryland State Archives. Accessed July 24, 2006.
  18. ^ Michigan in Brief State of Michigan. Updated March 7, 2005. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  19. ^ Saint Paul's 150th birthday. City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  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. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  21. ^ Lambert, Kirby. Montana's crown jewel of architecture: The Montana state capitol Montana: The Magazine of Western History, Montana Historical Society. Summer 2002. Accessed June 10, 2005.
  22. ^ Rocha, Guy Nevada State Archives Historical Myth a Month: Myth #28, Las Vegas: Nevada's Next State Capital. Updated July 14, 2003. Accessed June 9, 2005; originally published as Sierra Sage, Carson City/Carson Valley, Nevada. May 1998 edition.
  23. ^ New Hampshire Senate Page For Kids. New Hampshire General Court. Accessed June 9, 2005. New Hampshire History in Brief. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. Created 1989. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  24. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly History. Oregon State Archives. Accessed July 24, 2006.
  25. ^ The History of Pennsylvania's Capital. Pennsylvania Department of Education. Accessed July 24, 2006.
  26. ^ Capital Cities. Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. 2002. Accessed March 12, 2006.
  27. ^ Early History of Montpelier, Vermont. Vermont Historical Society. Accessed June 9, 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.
  28. ^ About Our Capital. Virginia General Assembly. Accessed July 20, 2006.
  29. ^ The History of Olympia. City of Olympia. Accessed June 9, 2005.
  30. ^ Cravens, Stanley H."Capitals and Capitols in Early Wisconsin". Wisconsin Blue Book, 1983-1984 edition.
  31. ^ Saban, Mary Thompson, Wyoming Sage: Brief History of Wyoming. Updated January 172004. Accessed June 10, 2005.

See also

External links

Template:USCapital

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