List of capitals in the United States - wikipedia List of capitals in the United States Washington, D.C. has been the federal capital city of the United States since 1790. Each U.S. state has its own capital city, as do many of its insular areas. Historically, most states have not changed their capital city since becoming a state, but the capital cities of their respective preceding colonies, territories, kingdoms, and republics typically changed multiple times. There have also been other governments within the current borders of the United States with their own capitals, such as the Republic of Texas, Native American nations, and other unrecognized governments. Contents 1 Capitals of the United States 2 State capitals 3 Insular area capitals 4 Former national capitals 4.1 Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii 4.2 Republic of Texas 5 Native American capitals 5.1 Cherokee Nation 5.2 Muscogee Creek Nation 5.3 Iroquois Confederacy 5.3. 1 Seneca Nation of Indians 5.4 Navajo Nation 6 Unrecognized national capitals 6.1 Vermont Republic 6.2 State of Franklin 6.3 State of Muskogee 6.4 Republic of West Florida 6.5 Republic of Indian Stream 6.6 California Republic 6.7 Confederate States 7 Historical state, colonial, and territorial capitals 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 11 Further reading 12 External links Capitals of the United States The Albany Conference ( June 18 -- July 11, 1754 ), or `` The Conference of Albany '', was the first meeting at which representatives of British colonies in North America ( seven of them ) gathered to discuss questions of common interest. It met in the Stadt Huys, the City Hall of Albany, New York ( demolished after a fire in 1836 ). The original purpose of the Conference was to coordinate relations with the Indians and common defensive measures against the French threat from Canada ( see French and Indian War # Albany Conference ). At that meeting the major topic of discussion, however, was the Albany Plan, presented by Benjamin Franklin, delegate from Pennsylvania, setting up a unified ( though not independent ) government for the colonies. Although the delegates approved the plan ( after modifications ) unanimously, it was not approved by any of the territorial governments, or by the British government. It was used later in the drafting of the Articles of Confederation. The Stamp Act Congress ( October 7 -- 25, 1765 ), or First Congress of the American Colonies, met in City Hall, today Federal Hall, in New York City. The Continental Congress, later called the First Continental Congress ( September 5 -- October 26, 1774 ), embryo of what would become the United States government, met in Carpenters ' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, today ( 2018 ) part of Independence National Historical Park. Delegate Joseph Galloway presented the Galloway Plan for a unified government, incorporating some elements of the Albany Plan, but it was not accepted. The Second Continental Congress ( 1775 -- 1781 ), in which the U.S. Declaration of Independence was debated and signed, and which starting in 1775 coordinated the American Revolutionary War, met primarily in the Pennsylvania State House, today Independence Hall, in Independence National Historic Park. The room as it was then is accurately depicted in the famous painting Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull, commissioned by Congress, which has hung in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda since 1825. The Articles of Confederation, though drafted in York, Pennsylvania, were adopted in Philadelphia in 1777, subject to the states ' approval. The Second Continental Congress also met briefly in the following locations : Henry Fite House, Baltimore, Maryland : December 20, 1776 to February 27, 1777, to avoid capture by British forces. The building was destroyed by fire in 1904. Court House, Lancaster, Pennsylvania : September 27, 1777 ( one day ) Court House, York, Pennsylvania : September 30, 1777 to June 2, 1778 College Hall, College of Philadelphia : July 2, 1778 to July 20, 1778 The Congress of the Confederation ( 1781 -- 1789 ) did not have an official capitol. It met in the following locations : Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : March 1, 1781 to June 21, 1783 ( In 1783 Congress was forced to move from Philadelphia due to a riot of angry soldiers. See Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783. ) Nassau Hall, Princeton, New Jersey : June 30, 1783 to November 4, 1783 Maryland State House, Annapolis, Maryland : November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784 French Arms Tavern, Trenton, New Jersey : November 1, 1784 to December 24, 1784 Federal Hall, New York City, New York : January 11, 1785 to October 2, 1788 Demolished in 1812. Fraunces Tavern, New York City, New York : October 6, 1788 to March 3, 1789 The United States Constitution addressed ( Article 1, section 8, clause 17 ) the need for a fixed U.S. Capitol. This led to the establishment of the District of Columbia and the founding of Washington as the nation 's capitol. Until the Capitol building was completed, and after it was burned by the British in 1814, requiring its rebuilding, Congress met in various places : Federal Hall, New York City, New York : March 4, 1789 to December 5, 1790. This is where George Washington was inaugurated as first President. Demolished in 1812. Congress Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, adjacent to the Pennsylvania State House ( Independence Hall ) and also part of Independence National Historic Park : December 6, 1790 to May 14, 1800. Built for the purpose of being the U.S. capitol. This is pursuant to the Residence Act of 1790, which designated Philadelphia as U.S. Capital for 10 years. United States Capitol. Territory of Columbia : November 17, 1800 to February 27, 1801 ; District of Columbia : February 27, 1801 to May 2, 1802 ; Washington, D.C. : May 3, 1802 to August 24, 1814, when the British burned it. ( President James Madison fled to the home of Quaker Caleb Bentley, in Brookeville, Maryland, where he stayed one night, August 26, 1814. As such, the town claims to have been the `` U.S. Capital for a Day '', despite the fact that Congress never met there. ) Blodgett 's Hotel ( one of the few surviving buildings large enough to hold all members ), September 19, 1814 -- December 7, 1815 Old Brick Capitol, Washington, D.C. : December 8, 1815 to 1819 ( while the original Capitol was being rebuilt ). Although the name says `` old '', the cornerstone was laid July 4, 1815. It was financed by Washington real - estate investors, who had heard rumors that some members of Congress were considering relocation of the national capital in the aftermath of the burning. United States Capitol, Washington, D.C. : 1819 to present State capitals States ( purple ) whose capital is also that state 's largest city by population ( 2016 estimate ). The dates listed in the following table indicate the year in which the city started to continuously serve as the state 's sole capital. Most states have changed their capital city at least once. In the case of the thirteen original states, `` statehood '' in the table refers to date of ratification of the United States Constitution. State capitals of the United States State Abr. State - hood Capital Capital since Area ( mi2 ) Population ( 2010 ) Notes Municipal ( Within city proper boundaries ) Metropolitan ( Both within the capital city proper and the surrounding area of the city proper ) Rank in state Rank in US Alabama AL 1819 Montgomery 1846 155.4 205,764 374,536 115 Birmingham is the state 's largest city. Alaska AK 1959 Juneau 1906 2716.7 31,275 Largest capital by municipal land area. Anchorage is the state 's largest city. Arizona AZ 1912 Phoenix 1889 474.9 1,445,632 4,192,887 5 Most populous U.S. state capital and the only capital with more than 1 million citizens. Arkansas AR 1836 Little Rock 1821 116.2 193,524 877,091 117 California CA 1850 Sacramento 1854 97.2 466,488 2,527,123 6 35 Supreme Court of California is headquartered in San Francisco. The state 's largest city is Los Angeles. Colorado CO 1876 Denver 1867 153.4 600,158 2,552,195 19 Denver was called Denver City until 1882. Connecticut CT 1788 Hartford 1875 17.3 124,775 1,212,381 221 Bridgeport is the state 's largest city. Hartford, however, is the state 's largest metro area. Hartford was also formerly the state 's largest city. Delaware DE 1787 Dover 1777 22.4 36,047 162,310 Longest - serving capital in terms of statehood. Wilmington is the state 's largest city. Florida FL 1845 Tallahassee 1824 95.7 190,894 379,627 7 126 Jacksonville is the largest city. Miami is the largest metropolitan area. Georgia GA 1788 Atlanta 1868 131.7 420,003 5,789,700 38 State capital with the most populous metro area in the U.S. Hawaii HI 1959 Honolulu 1845 85.7 337,256 953,207 55 Idaho ID 1890 Boise 1865 63.8 205,671 616,561 99 Illinois IL 1818 Springfield 1837 54.0 116,250 208,182 6 241 Springfield was once home to Abraham Lincoln. Chicago is the state 's largest city. Indiana IN 1816 Indianapolis 1825 361.5 829,718 1,756,221 15 Iowa IA 1846 Des Moines 1857 75.8 203,433 580,255 102 Kansas KS 1861 Topeka 1856 56.0 127,473 230,824 217 Wichita is the state 's largest city. The largest metro area is the portion of Kansas that is considered part of Greater Kansas City. Kentucky KY 1792 Frankfort 1792 14.7 25,527 70,758 14 Louisville is the state 's largest city. Louisiana LA 1812 Baton Rouge 1880 76.8 229,553 802,484 97 New Orleans is the state 's largest city and home to the Louisiana Supreme Court, although Baton Rouge is located in the state 's most populous parish. It is also home to the tallest state capitol building. Maine ME 1820 Augusta 1832 55.4 19,136 117,114 8 Portland is the state 's largest city and previous capital. Maryland MD 1788 Annapolis 1694 6.73 38,394 7 Smallest capital by land area. Baltimore is the state 's largest city and county. Capitol building is the oldest in the U.S. still in use. Massachusetts MA 1788 Boston 1630 48.4 617,594 4,522,858 22 Longest continuously serving capital in the U.S. Michigan MI 1837 Lansing 1847 35.0 114,297 464,036 5 239 Only state capital that is not also its county seat ( not counting the two state capitals that are independent cities and not located in any county ). Detroit is the state 's largest city. Minnesota MN 1858 Saint Paul 1849 52.8 300,851 3,502,891 64 Capital 's twin city, Minneapolis, is the state 's largest. The two form the core of the state 's Largest Metro Area. Mississippi MS 1817 Jackson 1821 104.9 173,514 539,057 149 Only state capital that shares its status as county seat with another city ( Raymond, Mississippi ). Missouri MO 1821 Jefferson City 1826 27.3 43,079 149,807 15 Kansas City is the state 's largest city, and Greater St. Louis is the state 's largest metropolitan area. Montana MT 1889 Helena 1875 14.0 28,190 74,801 6 Billings is the state 's largest city. Nebraska NE 1867 Lincoln 1867 74.6 258,379 302,157 71 Omaha is the state 's largest city. It shares the largest metro area with Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nevada NV 1864 Carson City 1861 143.4 55,274 6 One of two independent cities that serves as a state capital. Las Vegas is the state 's largest city. It shares the largest metro area with Paradise. New Hampshire NH 1788 Concord 1808 64.3 42,695 Manchester is the state 's largest city. New Jersey NJ 1787 Trenton 1784 7.66 84,913 366,513 10 Served as the U.S. capital for a short period in the late 18th century. Newark is the state 's largest city, although Trenton is the center of the largest Metropolitan Statistical Area centered in New Jersey. New Mexico NM 1912 Santa Fe 1610 37.3 75,764 183,732 Longest serving capital in the United States. Highest elevation of any state capital. Albuquerque is the state 's largest city. New York NY 1788 Albany 1797 21.4 97,856 857,592 6 New York City is the state 's largest city. North Carolina NC 1789 Raleigh 1792 114.6 403,892 1,130,490 41 Charlotte is the state 's largest city. North Dakota ND 1889 Bismarck 1883 26.9 61,272 108,779 Fargo is the state 's largest city. Ohio OH 1803 Columbus 1816 210.3 822,553 1,967,066 14 Third - largest state capital ; however, the Cincinnati metropolitan area is slightly larger. Cleveland was previously the state 's largest city. Oklahoma OK 1907 Oklahoma City 1910 607.0 580,000 1,252,987 27 Shortest serving current state capital. Oregon OR 1859 Salem 1855 45.7 154,637 390,738 151 Portland is the state 's largest city. Pennsylvania PA 1787 Harrisburg 1812 8.11 49,528 647,390 9 Philadelphia is the state 's largest city. Rhode Island RI 1790 Providence 1900 18.5 178,042 1,630,956 137 Also served as the state 's capital 1636 -- 1686 and 1689 -- 1776. It was one of five co-capitals 1776 -- 1853, and one of two co-capitals 1853 -- 1900. South Carolina SC 1788 Columbia 1786 125.2 131,686 913,797 199 Charleston is the state 's largest city, while Greenville is the largest metro area. South Dakota SD 1889 Pierre 1889 13.0 13,646 8 Sioux Falls is the state 's largest city. Tennessee TN 1796 Nashville 1826 473.3 635,710 1,582,264 24 Texas TX 1845 Austin 1839 251.5 790,390 1,716,291 11 Houston is the state 's largest city and the previous capital, and Dallas -- Fort Worth is the largest metro area. Austin is the largest state capital that is not also the state 's largest city by population. Utah UT 1896 Salt Lake City 1858 109.1 186,440 1,124,197 123 Vermont VT 1791 Montpelier 1805 10.2 7,855 6 Least populous U.S. state capital. Burlington is the state 's most populous city and has the lowest population of those cities that are the most populous in their state. Virginia VA 1788 Richmond 1780 60.1 204,214 1,231,675 98 Virginia Beach and Norfolk are the state 's largest cities, and Hampton Roads is the state 's largest metro area based in the state. Richmond is one of two independent cities that serves as a state capital. Although Richmond is the county seat of Henrico County, it is not part of the county. Washington WA 1889 Olympia 1853 16.7 46,478 234,670 24 Seattle is the state 's largest city. West Virginia WV 1863 Charleston 1885 31.6 51,400 304,214 Charleston is the smallest capital city that is still the most populous city in its state. Huntington has the largest metropolitan area. Wisconsin WI 1848 Madison 1838 68.7 233,209 561,505 82 Milwaukee is the state 's largest city. Wyoming WY 1890 Cheyenne 1869 21.1 59,466 91,738 Insular area capitals An insular area is a United States territory that is neither a part of one of the fifty states nor a part of the District of Columbia, the nation 's federal district. Those insular areas with territorial capitals are listed below. Capitals of United States Insular Areas Insular area Abr. Date Capital Population ( 2010 ) Notes American Samoa AS 1899 Pago Pago 3,656 Pago Pago refers to both a village and a group of villages, one of the group is Fagatogo the official seat of government stated in the territory 's constitution since 1967. Guam GU 1898 Hagåtña 1,051 Dededo is the area 's largest village. Northern Mariana Islands MP 1947 Saipan 48,220 Puerto Rico PR 1898 San Juan 395,326 The city of San Juan was originally called Puerto Rico while the island was called San Juan Bautista. U.S. Virgin Islands VI 1917 Charlotte Amalie 18,481 Former National capitals Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii Prior to becoming a territory of the United States in 1898, Hawaii was an independent country. Five sites served as its capital : Waikīkī. Served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1795 -- 1796 Hilo. Served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1796 -- 1803 Kailua - Kona. Served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1812 -- 1820 Lahaina. Served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1820 -- 1845. Honolulu Served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1803 -- 1812. Served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, 1845 -- January 17, 1893. Served as the seat of the Provisional Government of Hawaii after the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, January 17, 1893 -- July 4, 1894. Served as the capital of the Republic of Hawaii when it was established on July 4, 1894 until the Republic was annexed by the United States on July 7, 1898 under the Newlands Resolution to become the Territory of Hawaii. On becoming a state in 1959, Honolulu became the capital of the State of Hawaii. Republic of Texas Before joining the United States under the Texas Annexation in 1845, Texas was an independent nation known as the Republic of Texas. Seven cities served as its capital : Washington ( now Washington - on - the - Brazos ), 1836 Harrisburg ( now part of Houston ), 1836 Galveston, 1836 Velasco, 1836 West Columbia, 1836 Houston, 1837 -- 1839 Austin, 1839 -- 1845 ( also present - day capital of the State of Texas ) Native American capitals Some Native American tribes, in particular the Five Civilized Tribes, organized their states with constitutions and capitals in Western style. Others, like the Iroquois, had long - standing, pre-Columbian traditions of a ' capitol ' longhouse where wampum and council fires were maintained with special status. Since they did business with the U.S. Federal Government, these capitals can be seen as officially recognized in some sense. Cherokee Nation New Echota 1825 -- 1832 New Echota, now near Calhoun, Georgia was founded in 1825, realizing the dream and plans of Cherokee Chief Major Ridge. Major Ridge chose the site because of its centrality in the historic Cherokee Nation which spanned parts of Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama, and because it was near the confluence of the Conasauga and Coosawattee rivers. The town 's layout was partly inspired by Ridge 's many visits to Washington D.C. and to Baltimore, but also invoked traditional themes of the Southeastern ceremonial complex. Complete with the Council House, Supreme Court, Cherokee syllabary printing press, and the houses of several of the Nation 's constitutional officers, New Echota served as the capital until 1832 when the state of Georgia outlawed Native American assembly in an attempt to undermine the Nation. Thousands of Cherokee would gather in New Echota for the annual National Councils, camping along the nearby rivers and holding long stomp dances in the park - like woods that were typical of many Southeastern Native American settlements. Red Clay 1832 -- 1838 The Cherokee National council grounds were moved to Red Clay, Tennessee on the Georgia state line in order to evade the Georgia state militia. The log cabins, limestone springs and park - like woods of Red Clay served as the capital until the Cherokee Nation was removed to Indian Territory ( Oklahoma ) on the Trail of Tears. Tahlequah 1839 -- 1907, 1938 -- present Tahlequah, in present - day Oklahoma, served as the capital of the original Cherokee Nation after Removal. After the Civil War, a turbulent period for the Nation which was involved in its own civil war resulting from pervasive anger and disagreements over removal from Georgia, the Cherokee Nation built a new National Capitol in Tahlequah out of brick. The building served as the capitol until 1907, when the Dawes Act finally dissolved the Cherokee Nation and Tahlequah became the county seat of Cherokee County, Oklahoma. The Cherokee National government was re-established in 1938 and Tahlequah remains the capital of the modern Cherokee Nation ; it is also the capital of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Cherokee 20th century -- present ( Eastern Band of Cherokee ) Approximately four to eight hundred Cherokees escaped removal because they lived on a separated tract, purchased later with the help of Confederate Colonel William Holland Thomas, along the Oconaluftee river deep in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. Some Cherokees fleeing the Federal Army sent for the `` round up, '' fled to the remote settlements separated from the rest of the Cherokee Territory in Georgia and North Carolina in order to remain in their homeland. In the 20th century, their descendants organized as the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians ; its capital is at Cherokee, North Carolina, in the tribally - controlled Qualla Boundary. Muscogee Creek Nation Hot Springs, Arkansas c. 1837 -- 1866 After Removal from their Alabama - Georgia homeland, the Creek national government met near Hot Springs which was then part of their new territory as prescribed in the Treaty of Cusseta. However, the Union forced the Creeks to cede over three million acres ( half of their land ) of what is now Arkansas, after some Creeks fought with the Confederacy in the American Civil War. Okmulgee 1867 -- 1906 Served as the National capital after the American Civil War. It was probably named after Ocmulgee, on the Ocmulgee river in Macon, a principle Coosa and later Creek town built with mounds and functioning as part of the Southeastern ceremonial complex. However, there were other traditional Creek `` mother - towns '' before removal. The Ocmulgee mounds were ceded illegally in 1821 with the Treaty of Indian Springs. Iroquois Confederacy Onondaga ( Onondaga privilege c. 1450 -- present ) The Iroquois Confederacy or Haudenosaunee, which means `` People of the Longhouse, '' was an alliance between the Five and later Six - Nations of Iroquoian language and culture of upstate New York. These include the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and, after 1722, the Tuscarora Nations. Since the Confederacy 's formation around 1450, the Onondaga Nation has held privilege of hosting the Iroquois Grand Council and the status of Keepers of the Fire and the Wampum -- which they still do at the official Longhouse on the Onondaga Reservation. Now spread over reservations in New York and Ontario, the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee preserve this arrangement to this day in what they claim to be the `` world 's oldest representative democracy. '' Seneca Nation of Indians Jimerson Town ( Allegany Reservation ) Irving ( Cattaraugus Reservation ) The Seneca Nation republic was founded in 1848 and has two capitals that rotate responsibilities every two years. Jimerson Town was founded in the 1960s following the formation of the Allegheny Reservoir. The Senecas also have an administrative longhouse in Steamburg but do not consider that location to be a capital. Navajo Nation Window Rock Window Rock ( Navajo : Tségháhoodzání ), Arizona, is a small city that serves as the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation ( 1936 -- present ), the largest territory of a sovereign Native American nation in North America. It lies within the boundaries of the St. Michaels Chapter, adjacent to the Arizona and New Mexico state line. Window Rock hosts the Navajo Nation governmental campus which contains the Navajo Nation Council, Navajo Nation Supreme Court, the offices of the Navajo Nation President and Vice President, and many Navajo government buildings. Unrecognized National capitals There have been a handful of nations within the current borders of the United States which were never officially recognized as legally independent sovereign entities ; however, these nations did have de facto control over their respective regions during their existence. Vermont Republic Before joining the United States as the fourteenth state, Vermont was an independent republic known as the Vermont Republic. Two cities served as the capital of the Republic : Westminster, 1777 Windsor, 1777 -- 1791 The current capital of the State of Vermont is Montpelier. State of Franklin The State of Franklin was an autonomous, secessionist United States territory created, not long after the end of the American Revolution, from territory that later was ceded by North Carolina to the federal government. Franklin 's territory later became part of the state of Tennessee. Franklin was never officially admitted into the Union of the United States and existed for only four years. Jonesborough, Tennessee, 1784 -- ? Greeneville, Tennessee, 1785 ? -- ? State of Muskogee The State of Muskogee was a short - lived Native American state in Florida, created by the Englishman William Augustus Bowles, who was its `` Director General '', author of its Constitution and designer of its flag. It consisted of several tribes of Creeks and Seminoles. It existed from 1799 to 1803. It had one capital : Miccosukee, 1799 -- 1803 Republic of west Florida The Republic of West Florida was a short - lived republic involving the area known today as Louisiana 's Florida Parishes -- at the time the westernmost portion of Spanish West Florida. The area was soon seized by the United States under President James Madison and incorporated into the Territory of Orleans. None of the Republic of West Florida was within the boundaries of modern Florida. St. Francisville, Louisiana, 1810 Republic of Indian Stream The Republic of Indian Stream was an unrecognized independent nation within the present state of New Hampshire. Pittsburg, New Hampshire, 1832 -- 1835 California Republic Before being annexed by the United States in 1848 ( following the Mexican -- American War ), a small portion of north - central California declared itself the California Republic, in an act of independence from Mexico, in 1846 ( see Bear Flag Revolt ). The republic only existed a month before it disbanded itself, to join the advancing American army and therefore became part of the United States. The very short - lived California Republic was never recognized by the United States, Mexico or any other nation. There was one de facto capital of the California Republic : Sonoma, 1846 Confederate States The Confederate States of America ( C.S.A. ) had two capitals during its existence. The first capital was established February 4, 1861, in Montgomery, Alabama, and remained there until it was moved to Richmond, Virginia, on May 29, 1861, after Virginia seceded on May 23. The individual state capitals remained the same in the Confederacy as they had been in the Union ( U.S.A. ), although as the advancing Union Army used those cities for military districts, some of the Confederate governments were relocated or moved out of state, traveling along with secessionist armies. Montgomery, February 4, 1861 -- May 29, 1861 Richmond, May 29, 1861 -- April 3, 1865 Historical state, colonial, and territorial capitals Most of the original Thirteen Colonies had their capitals occupied or attacked by the British during the American Revolutionary War. State governments operated where and as they could. The City of New York was occupied by British troops from 1776 to 1783. A similar situation occurred during the War of 1812, during the American Civil War in many Confederate states, and during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 -- 1692 in New Mexico. Twenty - two state capitals have been a capital longer than their state has been a state, since they served as the capital of a predecessor territory, colony, or republic. Boston, Massachusetts, has been a capital city since 1630 ; it is the oldest continuously - running capital in the United States. Santa Fe, New Mexico, is the oldest capital city, having become capital in 1610 and interrupted only by the aforementioned Pueblo Revolt. An even older Spanish city, St. Augustine, Florida, served as a colonial capital from 1565 until about 1820, more than 250 years. The table below includes the following information : The state, the year in which statehood was granted, and the state 's capital are shown in bold type. NOTE : For the first thirteen states, formerly the Thirteen Colonies of Great Britain on the Atlantic seaboard, the year of statehood is shown as 1776 ( United States Declaration of Independence ) rather than the subsequent year each state ratified the 1787 United States Constitution. ( See List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union. ) The year listed for each capital is the starting date ; the ending date is the starting date for the successor unless otherwise indicated. In many cases, capital cities of historical jurisdictions were outside of a state 's present borders. ( Those cities are generally indicated with the two - letter abbreviation for the U.S. state in which the former administrative capital is now located. ) Historical capitals in the United States of America State Capital Date Notes Alabama Statehood in 1819 San Agustín 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of La Florida. Savannah 1733 Capital of the British proprietary Colony of Georgia. 1755 Capital of the British Province of Georgia. 1776 Capitals of the State of Georgia. Augusta ( GA ) 1778 Heard 's Fort ( GA ) 1780 Augusta ( GA ) 1781 Savannah ( GA ) 1782 Ebenezer ( GA ) 1782 Savannah ( GA ) 1784 Augusta ( GA ) 1786 Louisville ( GA ) 1796 Natchez ( MS ) 1798 Capitals of the Mississippi Territory. Washington ( MS ) 1802 St. Stephens 1817 Capital of the Alabama Territory. Huntsville 1819 Capitals of the State of Alabama. Cahawba 1820 Tuscaloosa 1826 Montgomery 1846 Capital of the State of Alabama. ( Capital of the Confederate States of America in 1861. ) Alaska Statehood in 1959 Novo - Arkhangelsk Sitka 1808 Capital of the Russian colony of Alaska. 1867 Capital of the Department of Alaska. 1900 Capitals of the District of Alaska. Juneau 1906 1912 Capital of the Territory of Alaska. 1959 Capital of the State of Alaska. Arizona Statehood in 1912 Santa Fe ( NM ) 1848 Capital of the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico 1848 -- 1850. 1850 Capital of the U.S. Territory of New Mexico 1850 -- 1912. Mesilla ( NM ) 1862 Capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona ( southern New Mexico and Arizona 1862 ). San Antonio ( TX ) 1862 Capital of the government - in - exile of the Confederate Territory of Arizona 1862 -- 1865. Fort Whipple 1864 Capitals of the U.S. Territory of Arizona. Prescott 1864 Tucson 1867 Prescott 1877 Phoenix 1889 1912 Capital of the State of Arizona. Arkansas Statehood in 1836 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of La Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Louisiana Territory. 1812 Capital of the Missouri Territory. Arkansas Post 1819 Capitals of the Arkansaw Territory. Little Rock 1821 1836 Capital of the State of Arkansas. ( Washington was the Confederate state capital 1863 -- 1865. ) California Statehood in 1850 Loreto ( BCS ) 1770 Capitals of the Spanish Virreinato de la Nueva España colonies of las Californias. Presidio Reál de San Carlos de Monterey Monterey 1777 1804 Capital of the Spanish Virreinato de la Nueva España province of Alta California. 1821 Capital of the Mexican province of Alta California. 1846 Capital of the U.S. military government of California. 1849 Capital of the Provisional Government of California. Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe 1850 Capitals of the State of California Vallejo 1852 Benicia 1853 Sacramento 1854 Colorado Statehood in 1876 Denver City 1859 Capitals of the extralegal Territory of Jefferson. Golden City 1860 Denver City 1861 Capitals of the Territory of Colorado. Colorado City 1862 Golden City 1862 Denver City Denver 1867 1876 Capital of the State of Colorado. Connecticut Statehood in 1776 Fort Amsterdam ( NY ) 1625 Capital of the Netherlands colony of New Netherland. Hartford 1639 Capital of the English Colony of Connecticut 1639 -- 1686. New - Haven 1640 Capital of the English Colony of New - Haven until its merger into the Connecticut Colony in 1662. Boston ( MA ) 1686 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America. Hartford 1689 Capital of the English Colony of Connecticut. joint capitals 1701 Hartford and New - Haven served as the `` co-capitals '' of the English Colony of Connecticut, with the Assembly holding its May session in Hartford and its October session in New - Haven. 1707 Hartford and New - Haven joint capitals of the British Colony of Connecticut. 1776 Hartford and New Haven joint capitals of the State of Connecticut. Hartford 1875 Capital of the State of Connecticut. Delaware Statehood in 1776 Fort Kristina 1638 Capital of the Swedish colony of Nya Sverige. Fort Amsterdam Nieuw - Amsterdam New - York Nieuw - Oranje New - York ( NY ) 1655 Capital of the Dutch province of New Netherland. 1664 Capital of the English Colony of New - York. 1673 Capital of the Dutch military government of New Netherland. 1674 Capital of the English Colony of New - York. Philadelphia ( PA ) 1682 Capital of the English Colony of Pennsylvania. New Castle 1704 Capital of the English Lower Counties on the Delaware. 1707 Capital of the British Lower Counties on the Delaware. 1776 Capitals of the State of Delaware. Dover 1777 Florida Statehood in 1845 Fort de la Caroline 1564 Capital of the French colony of La Caroline 1564 -- 1565. San Agustín St. Augustine 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of La Florida 1565 -- 1763. 1763 Capital of the British province of East Florida 1763 -- 1783. 1783 Capital of the Spanish province of Florida Oriental 1783 -- 1821. Santa María de Ochuse Pensacola 1763 Capital of the British province of British West Florida 1763 -- 1783. 1783 Capital of the Spanish province of Florida Occidental 1783 -- 1821. Tallahassee 1824 Capital of the Florida Territory. 1845 Capital of the State of Florida. Georgia Statehood in 1776 San Agustín 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of La Florida. Savannah 1733 Capital of the British proprietary Colony of Georgia. 1755 Capital of the British Province of Georgia. 1776 Capitals of the State of Georgia. Augusta 1778 Heard 's Fort 1780 Augusta 1781 Savannah 1782 Ebenezer 1782 Savannah 1784 Augusta 1786 Louisville 1796 Milledgeville 1807 Macon 1864 Milledgeville 1865 Atlanta 1868 Hawaii Statehood in 1959 Lahaina 1820 Capitals of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Honolulu 1845 1894 Capital of the Republic of Hawaii. 1898 Capital of the Territory of Hawaii. 1959 Capital of the State of Hawai ʻi. Idaho Statehood in 1890 Oregon City ( OR ) 1843 Capital of the Provisional Government of Oregon in the Oregon Country. 1848 Capitals of the Territory of Oregon ( all of Idaho 1848 -- 1853, southern Idaho 1853 -- 1859. ) Salem ( OR ) 1851 Olympia ( WA ) 1853 Capital of the Territory of Washington ( northern Idaho 1853 -- 1859, all of Idaho 1859 -- 1863. ) Lewiston 1863 Capitals of the Territory of Idaho. Boise 1865 1890 Capital of the State of Idaho. Illinois Statehood in 1818 Marietta ( OH ) 1788 Capital of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio. Vincennes ( IN ) 1800 Capital of the Territory of Indiana. Kaskaskia 1809 Capital of the Territory of Illinois. 1818 Capitals of the State of Illinois. Vandalia 1820 Springfield 1839 Indiana Statehood in 1816 Marietta ( OH ) 1788 Capital of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio. Vincennes 1800 Capitals of the Territory of Indiana. Corydon 1813 1816 Capitals of the State of Indiana. Indianapolis 1825 Iowa Statehood in 1846 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of La Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Louisiana Territory. 1812 Capital of the Missouri Territory ( 1812 -- 1821 ). Detroit ( MI ) 1834 Capital of the Territory of Michigan. Belmont ( WI ) 1836 Capitals of the Territory of Wisconsin. Burlington 1837 1838 Capitals of the Territory of Iowa. Iowa City 1841 1846 Capitals of the State of Iowa. Des Moines 1857 Kansas Statehood in 1861 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of La Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Louisiana Territory. 1812 Capital of the Missouri Territory ( 1812 -- 1821 ). Pawnee 1855 Capital of the Kansas Territory ( July 2 -- July 6 ). Shawnee Mission 1855 Capital of the Kansas Territory. Lecompton 1856 Capital de jure ( pro-slavery ) of the Territory of Kansas. Topeka Capital de facto ( anti-slavery ) of the Territory of Kansas. Minneola 1858 Declared capital by territorial legislature, although this action was later declared void. Topeka 1861 Capital of the State of Kansas. Kentucky Statehood in 1792 Williamsburg ( VA ) 1699 Capital of the English Colony of Virginia. 1707 Capital of the British Colony of Virginia. 1776 Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Richmond ( VA ) 1780 Frankfort 1792 Capital of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. ( The government initially met at Lexington but Frankfort was quickly named the capital. Bowling Green was the rival Confederate state capital 1861 -- 62. ) Louisiana Statehood in 1812 San Agustín 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of La Florida. La Mobile 1702 Capitals of the French colony of La Louisiane. Bilocci 1720 La Nouvelle - Orléans Nueva Orleans New Orleans 1722 1763 Capital of the Spanish district of Baja Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of La Basse - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the Territory of Orleans. 1812 Capitals of the State of Louisiana. Donaldsonville 1830 New Orleans 1831 Baton Rouge 1849 Opelousas 1862 Shreveport 1863 New Orleans 1865 Baton Rouge 1882 Maine Statehood in 1820 Île Sainte - Croix 1604 Capitals of the French colony of l'Acadie. Port - Royal ( NS ) 1605 Boston ( MA ) 1630 Capital of the English Colony of Massachusetts Bay. 1686 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America. 1689 Capital of the dissident Colony of Massachusetts Bay. 1691 Capital of the English Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1707 Capital of the British Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1774 Capital of the dissident Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1776 Capital of the State of Massachusetts Bay. 1780 Capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Portland 1820 Capital of the State of Maine. 1827 Capital de facto of the State of Maine. Augusta Capital de jure of the State of Maine. 1832 Capital of the State of Maine. Maryland Statehood in 1776 St. Mary 's City 1634 Capital of the English proprietary Colony of Maryland. Anne Arundel 's Towne Annapolis 1694 Capital of the English Province of Maryland. 1707 Capital of the British Province of Maryland. 1776 Capital of the State of Maryland. ( Capital of the United States of America 1783 -- 1784. ) Massachusetts Statehood in 1776 Plimouth 1620 Capital of the English Colony of New - Plimouth 1620 -- 1686. Boston 1630 Capital of the English Colony of Massachusetts Bay 1630 -- 1686. 1686 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America 1686 -- 1689. Plimouth 1688 Capital of the dissident Colony of New - Plimouth 1688 -- 1692. Boston 1689 Capital of the dissident Colony of Massachusetts Bay 1689 -- 1692. 1692 Capital of the English Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1707 Capital of the British Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1774 Capital of the dissident Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1776 Capital of the State of Massachusetts Bay. 1780 Capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Michigan Statehood in 1837 Marietta ( OH ) 1788 Capitals of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio ( all of Michigan 1788 -- 1800, eastern Michigan 1800 -- 1803. ) Chillicothe ( OH ) 1800 Vincennes ( IN ) Capitals of the Territory of Indiana ( western Michigan 1800 -- 1803 ; all of Michigan 1803 -- 1805, a portion of the Upper Peninsula 1805 -- 1816. ) Corydon ( IN ) 1813 Detroit 1805 Capital of the Territory of Michigan ( Lower Peninsula 1805 -- 1818, all of Michigan 1818 -- 1837. ) ( Detroit was occupied by British Armed Forces 1812 -- 1813. ) 1837 Capitals of the State of Michigan. Lansing 1847 Minnesota Statehood in 1858 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana 1765 -- 1800. 1800 Capital of the French district of la Haute - Louisiane ( west of Mississippi River 1800 -- 1804. ) 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( west of Mississippi River under the authority of the Indiana Territory 1804 -- 1805. ) 1805 Capital of the Territory of Louisiana ( west of Mississippi River 1805 -- 1812. ) 1812 Capital of the Territory of Missouri ( west of Mississippi River 1812 -- 1821. ) Marietta ( OH ) 1788 Capital of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio ( east of Mississippi River 1788 -- 1800. ) Vincennes ( IN ) 1800 Capital of the Territory of Indiana ( east of Mississippi River 1800 -- 1809. ) Kaskaskia ( IL ) 1809 Capital of the Territory of Illinois ( east of Mississippi River 1809 -- 1818. ) Detroit ( MI ) 1818 Capital of the Territory of Michigan ( east of Mississippi River 1818 - 1834, all of Minnesota 1834 -- 1836. ) Belmont ( WI ) 1836 Capitals of the Territory of Wisconsin. Burlington ( IA ) 1837 1838 Capital of the Territory of Iowa ( west of Mississippi River 1838 -- 1841. ) Madison ( WI ) Capital of the Territory of Wisconsin ( east of Mississippi River 1838 -- 1848. ) Iowa City ( IA ) 1841 Capital of the Territory of Iowa ( west of Mississippi River 1841 -- 1846. ) Saint Paul 1849 Capital of the Territory of Minnesota. 1858 Capital of the State of Minnesota. Mississippi Statehood in 1817 San Agustín 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of La Florida. Savannah 1733 Capital of the British proprietary Colony of Georgia. 1755 Capital of the British Province of Georgia. 1776 Capitals of the State of Georgia. Augusta ( GA ) 1778 Heard 's Fort ( GA ) 1780 Augusta ( GA ) 1781 Savannah ( GA ) 1782 Ebenezer ( GA ) 1782 Savannah ( GA ) 1784 Augusta ( GA ) 1786 Louisville ( GA ) 1796 Natchez 1798 Capitals of the Territory of Mississippi. Washington 1802 Natchez 1817 Capitals of the State of Mississippi. Jackson 1821 Missouri Statehood in 1821 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of La Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Louisiana Territory. 1812 Capital of the Missouri Territory. Saint Charles 1821 Capitals of the State of Missouri. ( A Confederate state government in exile operated from Neosho 1861 -- 1863, and from Marshall, Texas, 1863 -- 1865. ) Jefferson City 1826 Montana Statehood in 1889 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana ( east of Continental Divide 1763 -- 1800. ) 1800 Capital of the French district of la Haute - Louisiane ( east of Continental Divide 1800 -- 1804. ) 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( east of Continental Divide under the authority of the Indiana Territory 1804 -- 1805. ) 1805 Capital of the Territory of Louisiana ( east of Continental Divide 1805 -- 1812. ) 1812 Capital of the Territory of Missouri ( east of Continental Divide 1812 -- 1821. ) Fort Vancouver ( WA ) 1825 Capital de facto of the Oregon Country ( west of Continental Divide 1818 -- 1843. ) Oregon City ( OR ) 1843 Capital of the Provisional Government of Oregon ( west of Continental Divide 1843 -- 1848. ) 1848 Capitals of the Territory of Oregon ( west of Continental Divide 1848 -- 1853. ) Salem ( OR ) 1851 Olympia ( WA ) 1853 Capital of the Territory of Washington ( west of Continental Divide 1853 -- 1863. ) Omaha ( NE ) 1854 Capital of the Territory of Nebraska ( east of Continental Divide 1854 -- 1861. ) Yankton ( SD ) 1861 Capital of the Territory of Dakota ( east of Continental Divide 1861 -- 1863. ) Lewiston ( ID ) 1863 Capital of the Territory of Idaho. Bannack 1864 Capitals of the Territory of Montana. Virginia City 1865 Helena 1875 1889 Capital of the State of Montana. Nebraska Statehood in 1867 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of la Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Territory of Louisiana. 1812 Capital of the Territory of Missouri ( 1812 -- 1821 ). Omaha 1854 Capitals of the Territory of Nebraska. Lancaster Lincoln 1867 1867 Capital of the State of Nebraska. Nevada Statehood in 1864 Fillmore ( UT ) 1850 Capitals of the Territory of Utah. Salt Lake City ( UT ) 1858 Carson City 1861 Capital of the Territory of Nevada. 1864 Capital of the State of Nevada. New Hampshire Statehood in 1776 Boston ( MA ) 1630 Capital of the English Colony of Massachusetts Bay. Portsmouth 1680 Capital of the English Province of New Hampshire. Boston ( MA ) 1686 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America. Portsmouth 1689 Capital of the dissident Province of New Hampshire. 1691 Capital of the English Province of New Hampshire. 1698 Capital of the English Province of New Hampshire under jurisdiction of the Royal Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1707 Capital of the British Province of New Hampshire under jurisdiction of the Royal Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay. 1741 Capital of the British Province of New Hampshire. Exeter 1775 Capital of the Revolutionary War government of New Hampshire. 1776 Capitals of the State of New Hampshire. Concord 1808 New Jersey Statehood in 1776 Fort Amsterdam ( NY ) 1625 Capital of the Dutch colony of New Netherland. 1652 Capital of the Dutch province of New Netherland. Elizabethtown ( now Elizabeth ) 1665 Capital of the English Province of New Jersey. Perth Amboy 1673 Capital of the English Province of East Jersey 1673 -- 1688. Burlington Capital of the English Province of West Jersey 1673 -- 1688. Boston ( MA ) 1688 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America 1688 -- 1689. Perth Amboy 1689 Capital of the English Province of East Jersey 1689 -- 1702. Burlington Capital of the English Province of West Jersey 1689 -- 1702. joint capitals 1702 East Jersey and West Jersey were re-united as the English Province of New Jersey in 1702. Perth Amboy and Burlington served jointly as the capital until 1784. 1707 Joint capitals of the British Province of New Jersey. 1776 Joint capitals of the State of New Jersey. Trenton 1784 Capital of the State of New Jersey. ( Capital of the United States of America in 1784. ) New Mexico Statehood in 1912 San Juan de los Caballeros 1598 Capitals of the Spanish Virreinato de la Nueva España colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís 1610 El Paso del Norte ( now Ciudad Juárez CHH ) 1680 Capital of the Spanish Virreinato de la Nueva España colony - in - exile of Santa Fe de Nuevo México ( Pueblo Revolt 1680 -- 1692 ). La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís Santa Fe 1692 Capital of the Spanish Virreinato de la Nueva España colony of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. 1821 Capital of the Mexican province of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. 1824 Capital of the Mexican territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. 1846 Capital of the U.S. military government of New Mexico 1846. 1846 Capital of the U.S. provisional government of New Mexico 1846 -- 1850. 1850 Capital of the U.S. Territory of New Mexico 1850 -- 1912. Mesilla 1862 Capital of the Confederate Territory of Arizona ( southern New Mexico and Arizona 1862 ). San Antonio ( TX ) 1862 Capital of the government - in - exile of the Confederate Territory of Arizona 1862 -- 1865. Santa Fe 1912 Capital of the State of New Mexico. New York Statehood in 1776 Fort Amsterdam Nieuw - Amsterdam New - York Nieuw - Oranje New - York 1625 Capital of the Dutch colony of New Netherland ( Novum Belgium ). 1652 Capital of the Dutch province of New Netherland. 1664 Capital of the English Province of New York. 1673 Capital of the Dutch military government of New Netherland. 1674 Capital of the English Province of New York. Boston ( MA ) 1688 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America. New - York 1689 Capital of the dissident government of New - York. 1691 Capital of the English Province of New York. 1707 Capital of the British Province of New York. 1776 Capitals of the State of New York. Kingston 1777 Hurley 1777 Poughkeepsie 1777 New York 1788 Capital of the State of New York. ( Capital of the United States of America 1785 -- 1788 and 1789 -- 1790. ) Albany 1797 Capital of the State of New York. North Carolina Statehood in 1776 San Agustín ( FL ) 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of la Florida. Charlestown ( SC ) 1670 Capital of the English Province of Carolina. 1707 Capital of the British Province of Carolina. New Bern 1712 Capital of the British Province of North Carolina. 1776 Capitals of the State of North Carolina. Fayetteville 1789 Raleigh 1794 North Dakota Statehood in 1889 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of la Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Territory of Louisiana. 1812 Capital of the Territory of Missouri ( 1812 -- 1821 ). Detroit ( MI ) 1834 Capital of the Territory of Michigan ( east of Missouri River and White Earth River 1834 -- 1836. ) Belmont ( WI ) 1836 Capitals of the Territory of Wisconsin ( east of Missouri River and White Earth River 1836 -- 1838. ) Burlington ( IA ) 1837 1838 Capitals of the Territory of Iowa ( east of Missouri River and White Earth River 1838 -- 1846. ) Iowa City ( IA ) 1841 Saint Paul ( MN ) 1849 Capital of the Territory of Minnesota ( east of Missouri River and White Earth River 1849 -- 1858. ) Omaha ( NE ) 1854 Capital of the Territory of Nebraska ( west of Missouri River or White Earth River 1854 -- 1861. ) Yankton ( SD ) 1861 Capitals of the Territory of Dakota. Bismarck 1883 1889 Capital of the State of North Dakota. Ohio Statehood in 1803 Marietta 1788 Capitals of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio. Chillicothe 1800 1803 Capitals of the State of Ohio. Zanesville 1810 Chillicothe 1812 Columbus 1816 Oklahoma Statehood in 1907 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of la Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Territory of Louisiana. 1812 Capital of the Territory of Missouri. Arkansas Post ( AR ) 1819 Capitals of the Territory of Arkansaw ( south of the parallel 36 ° 30 ' north 1819 -- 1824, southeastern Oklahoma 1824 -- 1828. ) Little Rock ( AR ) 1821 Tahlequah 1838 Capital of the Cherokee Nation. Tuskahoma 1838 Capital of the Choctaw Nation. Tishomingo 1855 Capital of the Chickasaw Nation. Wewoka 1866 Capital of the Seminole Nation. Okmulgee 1867 Capital of the Creek Nation. Pawhuska ? Capital of the Osage Nation. Guthrie 1889 Capital of the Territory of Oklahoma. 1907 Capitals of the State of Oklahoma. Oklahoma City 1910 Oregon Statehood in 1859 Champoeg 1843 Temporary capital of the disputed Oregon Country. Oregon City 1843 Capital of the Provisional Government of Oregon in the Oregon Country. 1848 Capitals of the Territory of Oregon. Salem 1851 Corvallis 1855 Salem 1855 1859 Capital of the State of Oregon. Pennsylvania Statehood in 1776 Philadelphia 1682 Capital of the English proprietary Colony of Pennsylvania. 1707 Capital of the British proprietary Colony of Pennsylvania. 1776 Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ( Capital of the United States of America 1776, 1777, 1778 -- 1783, and 1790 -- 1800. ) Lancaster 1799 Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ( Capital of the United States of America 1777. ) Harrisburg 1812 Capital of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Rhode Island Statehood in 1776 Providence 1636 Capital of the English Colony of Providence 1636 -- 1644. Portsmouth 1639 Capital of the English Colony of Aquidneck Island 1639 -- 1644. 1644 Capital of the English Colony of Rhode Island. Providence 1644 Capital of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Boston ( MA ) 1686 Capital of the English Dominion of New - England in America. Providence 1689 Capital of the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. 1707 Capital of the British Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. five capitals 1776 From 1776 to 1853, the legislature of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations rotated among the county seats of the state 's five counties : Providence, Newport, East Greenwich, South Kingstown, and Bristol. joint capitals 1854 From 1854 to 1899, the legislature of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations alternated sessions between Providence and Newport. Providence 1900 Capital of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. South Carolina Statehood in 1776 San Agustín ( FL ) 1565 Capital of the Spanish colony of la Florida. Charlestown 1670 Capital of the English Province of Carolina. 1707 Capital of the British Province of Carolina. 1712 Capital of the British Province of South Carolina. 1776 Capitals of the State of South Carolina. Columbia 1786 South Dakota Statehood in 1889 Saint - Louis San Luis St. Louis ( MO ) 1765 Capital of the Spanish ( though predominantly Francophone ) district of Alta Louisiana. 1800 Capital of the French district of la Haute - Louisiane. 1804 Capital of the District of Louisiana ( under the authority of the Indiana Territory. ) 1805 Capital of the Territory of Louisiana. 1812 Capital of the Territory of Missouri ( 1812 -- 1821 ). Detroit ( MI ) 1834 Capital of the Territory of Michigan ( east of Missouri River 1834 -- 1836. ) Belmont ( WI ) 1836 Capitals of the Territory of Wisconsin ( east of Missouri River 1836 -- 1838. ) Burlington ( IA ) 1837 1838 Capitals of the Territory of Iowa ( east of Missouri River 1838 -- 1846. ) Iowa City ( IA ) 1841 Saint Paul ( MN ) 1849 Capital of the Territory of Minnesota ( east of Missouri River 1849 -- 1858. ) Omaha ( NE ) 1854 Capital of the Territory of Nebraska ( west of Missouri River 1854 -- 1861. ) Yankton 1861 Capitals of the Territory of Dakota. Bismarck ( ND ) 1883 Pierre 1889 Capital of the State of South Dakota. Tennessee Statehood in 1796 New Bern ( NC ) 1712 Capital of the British Province of North Carolina. 1776 Capital of the State of North Carolina. Rocky Mount 1790 Capitals of the Territory South of the River Ohio. White 's Fort Knoxville 1791 1796 Capital of the State of Tennessee. Kingston 1807 Capital of the State of Tennessee for one day in 1807 to fulfill treaty obligations with the Cherokee Nation. Knoxville 1807 Capitals of the State of Tennessee. Nashville 1812 Knoxville 1817 Murfreesboro 1818 Nashville 1826 Texas Statehood in 1845 Los Adaes ( LA ) 1729 Capitals of the Spanish colony of Tejas. San Antonio de Béxar ( now San Antonio ) 1772 Saltillo ( COA ) 1824 Capitals of the Mexican province of Coahuila y Tejas. Monclova ( COA ) 1833 Washington ( now Washington - on - the - Brazos ) 1836 Capitals of the Republic of Texas. Galveston 1836 Harrisburg 1836 Velasco 1836 Columbia 1836 Houston 1837 Austin 1839 1845 Capital of the State of Texas. Utah Statehood in 1896 Salt Lake City 1849 Capital of the extralegal State of Deseret. Fillmore 1850 Capitals of the Territory of Utah. Salt Lake City 1858 1896 Capital of the State of Utah. Vermont Statehood in 1791 Westminster 1777 Capitals of the Republic of New Connecticut. Windsor 1777 1777 Capital of the Vermont Republic. 1791 Capitals of the State of Vermont. Montpelier 1805 Virginia Statehood in 1776 Jamestown 1619 Capitals of the English Colony of Virginia. Middle Plantation Williamsburg 1698 1707 Capital of the British Colony of Virginia. 1776 Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Richmond 1780 Capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia. ( Capital of the Confederate States of America 1861 -- 1865. ) ( A rival pro-Union state government operated from Wheeling 1861 -- 1863 and from Alexandria 1863 -- 1865. ) Washington Statehood in 1889 Champoeg ( OR ) 1843 Temporary capital of the disputed Oregon Country. Oregon City ( OR ) 1843 Capital of the Provisional Government of Oregon in the Oregon Country. 1848 Capitals of the Territory of Oregon. Salem ( OR ) 1851 Olympia 1853 Capital of the Territory of Washington. 1889 Capital of the State of Washington. West Virginia Statehood in 1863 Jamestown ( VA ) 1619 Capitals of the English Colony of Virginia. Middle Plantation ( VA ) Williamsburg ( VA ) 1698 1707 Capital of the British Colony of Virginia. 1776 Capitals of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Richmond ( VA ) 1780 Wheeling 1861 Capital of the rival pro-Union government of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 1863 Capitals of the State of West Virginia. Charleston 1870 Wheeling 1875 Charleston 1885 Wisconsin Statehood in 1848 Marietta ( OH ) 1788 Capital of the Territory Northwest of the River Ohio. Vincennes ( IN ) 1800 Capital of the Territory of Indiana. Kaskaskia ( IL ) 1809 Capital of the Territory of Illinois. Detroit ( MI ) 1818 Capital of the Territory of Michigan. Belmont 1836 Capitals of the Territory of Wisconsin. Burlington ( IA ) 1837 Madison 1838 1848 Capital of the State of Wisconsin. Wyoming Statehood in 1890 Lewiston ( ID ) 1863 Capital of the Territory of Idaho. Yankton ( SD ) 1864 Capital of the Territory of Dakota. Cheyenne 1869 Capital of the Territory of Wyoming. 1890 Capital of the State of Wyoming. See also Historic regions of the United States History of the Philippines ( 1898 -- 1946 ) History of the United States Lists of capitals List of U.S. colonial possessions Outline of United States history Political divisions of the United States Territorial evolution of the United States Timeline of country and capital changes Notes ^ ( a ) Even though the urbanized area of Carson City is about 15 miles ( 24 km ) from the California border, the larger Consolidated Municipality of Carson City does form part of the Nevada state border. Similarly, the City and Borough of Juneau extends eastward to British Columbia, although the urbanized area of Juneau is about 35 miles ( 56 km ) from the Canada -- US border. ^ ( b ) Congress was forced to move from Philadelphia due to a riot of angry soldiers. See : Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 ^ ( c ) President James Madison fled to the home of Caleb Bentley in Brookeville, Maryland following the burning of Washington on August 24 -- 25, 1814. As such, the town claims to have been the `` U.S. Capital for a Day '' despite the fact that Congress never met there. See : `` A Brief History ''. Town of Brookeville, Maryland. 2006. Archived from the original on 2008 - 12 - 07. Retrieved 2008 - 10 - 07. ^ ( d ) Due to flooding in Sacramento, San Francisco served as a temporary capital from January 24, 1862 to May 15, 1862. See `` California 's State Capitols 1850 -- present '' ( PDF )... ^ ( e ) The District of Columbia was formed February 27, 1801, with the District of Columbia Organic Act of 1801. The city of Washington was founded in 1791 and construction of the new capital began while it was still part of Maryland. President John Adams moved to the White House on November 1, 1800 and the 6th United States Congress held its first session in Washington on November 17, 1800. References Jump up ^ `` United States Capitols ''. Jump up ^ `` United States Capitols ''. Jump up ^ `` United States Capitols ''. Jump up ^ Heiler, Sandra. `` U.S. Capital for a Day '' ( PDF ). Town of Brookeville, Maryland. Retrieved May 18, 2018. Jump up ^ Burton, Harold H. ; Waggaman, Thomas E. ( 1952 ). The Story of the Place : Where First and A Streets Formerly Met at What Is Now the Site of the Supreme Court Building. Washington, DC. : Historical Society of Washington. p. 141. JSTOR 40067303. ^ Jump up to : Ehle, John ( 1988 ). Trail of Tears : The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation. New York : Anchor Books Doubleday. ISBN 0385239548. Jump up ^ `` Qualla Boundary NCpedia ''. www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 18. Jump up ^ `` Muscogee Creek Nation - Culture / history ''. Muscogee Creek Nation. Jump up ^ nysmuseum ( 2014 - 09 - 30 ), Haudenosaunee or Iroquois ?, retrieved 2017 - 01 - 24 Jump up ^ `` Haudenosaunee Confederacy ''. www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 24. Jump up ^ `` Haudenosaunee Confederacy ''. www.haudenosauneeconfederacy.com. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 24. Jump up ^ Landers, Jane ( 2010 ). Atlantic Creoles in the Age of Revolutions. London : Harvard University Press. p. 102 - 103. Jump up ^ The State of Muskogee, State Flags of Florida, Cultural, Historical and Information Programs, Office of Cultural and Historical Programs website, Florida Department of State, Government of Florida, retrieved October 31, 2007. Jump up ^ Capitals of Alabama. Alabama Department of Archives and History. Updated October 29, 2001. Accessed June 9, 2005. ^ Jump up to : The Spanish name La Florida originally referred to all of the American continent north of Mexico. As other European nations colonized North America, the extent of La Florida shrank to encompass only the Spanish territorial claims in the southeastern portion of the present United States. Jump up ^ Frequently Asked Questions About Alaska Archived 2005 - 06 - 13 at the Wayback Machine... 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 Archived 2005 - 02 - 18 at the Wayback Machine... Department of Community and Economic Development, Alaska Community Database Online. Accessed June 9, 2005. Jump up ^ Capitals before the Capitol Archived 2005 - 03 - 07 at the Wayback Machine... Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Accessed June 9, 2005. Jump up ^ Educational Materials : Facts Archived 2005 - 06 - 26 at the Wayback Machine... 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. ^ Jump up to : The name Arkansas has been pronounced and spelled in a variety of fashions. The region was organized as the Territory of Arkansaw on July 4, 1819, but the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Arkansas on June 15, 1836. The name was historically pronounced / ˈɑːrkənsɔː /, / ɑːr ˈkænzəs /, and several other variants. In 1881, the Arkansas General Assembly passed the following concurrent resolution ( Arkansas Statutes, Title 1, Chapter 4, Section 105 ) : Whereas, confusion of practice has arisen in the pronunciation of the name of our state and it is deemed important that the true pronunciation should be determined for use in oral official proceedings. And, whereas, the matter has been thoroughly investigated by the State Historical Society and the Eclectic Society of Little Rock, which have agreed upon the correct pronunciation as derived from history, and the early usage of the American immigrants. Be it therefore resolved by both houses of the General Assembly, that the only true pronunciation of the name of the state, in the opinion of this body, is that received by the French from the Native Americans and committed to writing in the French word representing the sound. It should be pronounced in three ( 3 ) syllables, with the final `` s '' silent, the `` a '' in each syllable with the Italian sound, and the accent on the first and last syllables. The pronunciation with the accent on the second syllable with the sound of `` a '' in `` man '' and the sounding of the terminal `` s '' is an innovation to be discouraged. Citizens of the State of Kansas often pronounce the Arkansas River / ɑːr ˈkænzəs / in a manner similar to the common pronunciation of the name of their state. Jump up ^ E. Dotson Wilson ( 2006 ). Ebbert, Brian S., ed. California 's Legislature ( PDF ). Sacramento, California : State of California. pp. 157 -- 165. Retrieved 2006 - 10 - 03. Jump up ^ Early Capitol and Legislative Assembly Locations Colorado State Archives, Colorado State Capitol Virtual Tour. Updated June 20, 2003. Accessed June 9, 2005. Jump up ^ From December 3, 1859, to December 3, 1861, Denver City was formally the City of Denver, Auraria, and Highland. Jump up ^ On November 15, 1902, the City of Denver became the City and County of Denver. Jump up ^ Florida State History. Florida Division of Historical Resources. Jump up ^ Jackson, Edwin L. Story of Georgia 's Capitols and Capital Cities Archived 2007 - 10 - 09 at the Wayback Machine... Carl Vinson Institute of Government. University of Georgia. 1988 Jump up ^ Chronological History of Idaho. Idaho Office of the Governor. Created 2000. Accessed June 9, 2005. ^ Jump up to : Clarke, S.A. ( 1905 ). Pioneer Days of Oregon History. J.K. Gill Company. Jump up ^ Past Capitols ; based on Illinois Bluebook, 1975 -- 1976. Created March 5, 2005. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ Harding, Eldon. Stories from the Kansas State Capital : Choosing a Capital City -- Why Topeka ? Archived 2005 - 03 - 12 at the Wayback Machine... Kansas State Historical Society. April 2001. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ Fitzgerald, Daniel ( 1988 ). Ghost Towns of Kansas. University Press of Kansas. pp. 61 -- 65. ISBN 0700603689. Jump up ^ Kentucky 's State Capitols Archived 2006 - 08 - 13 at the Wayback Machine... Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. Accessed July 24, 2006. Jump up ^ Note : The Louisiana Capitals information may be incorrect or incomplete. See `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2006 - 06 - 15. Retrieved 2006 - 06 - 28. CS1 maint : Archived copy as title ( link ) and elsewhere. Jump up ^ Students Questions Frequently Ask Archived 2005 - 03 - 13 at the Wayback Machine... Maine State Senate. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ Historical Chronology. Maryland State Archives. Accessed July 24, 2006. Jump up ^ Michigan in Brief State of Michigan. Updated March 7, 2005. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ Saint Paul 's 150th birthday Archived 2005 - 04 - 11 at the Wayback Machine... City of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Accessed June 9, 2005. Jump up ^ Bunn, Mike and Clay Williams, Capitals and Capitols : The Places and Spaces of Mississippi 's Seat of Government Archived 2005 - 05 - 11 at the Wayback Machine... Mississippi History Now. Mississippi Historical Society Online. Posted September 2003. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ Lambert, Kirby. Montana 's crown jewel of architecture : The Montana state capitol Archived 2011 - 09 - 27 at the Wayback Machine. Montana : The Magazine of Western History, Montana Historical Society. Summer 2002. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ Rocha, Guy Nevada State Archives Historical Myth a Month : Myth # 28, Las Vegas : Nevada 's Next State Capital Archived 2003 - 08 - 22 at the Wayback Machine... Updated July 14, 2003. Accessed June 9, 2005 ; originally published as Sierra Sage, Carson City / Carson Valley, Nevada. May 1998 edition. Jump up ^ 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. Jump up ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly History. Oregon State Archives. Accessed February 17, 2012. Jump up ^ The History of Pennsylvania 's Capital. Pennsylvania Department of Education. Accessed July 24, 2006. Jump up ^ Capital Cities. Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. 2002. Accessed March 12, 2006. Jump up ^ Early History of Montpelier, Vermont Archived 2005 - 02 - 12 at the Wayback Machine... 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. Jump up ^ About Our Capital Archived 2006 - 06 - 25 at the Wayback Machine... Virginia General Assembly. Accessed July 20, 2006. Jump up ^ The History of Olympia. City of Olympia. Accessed June 9, 2005. Jump up ^ Cravens, Stanley H. `` Capitals and Capitols in Early Wisconsin '' Archived 2006 - 06 - 23 at the Wayback Machine... Wisconsin Blue Book Archived 2006 - 02 - 09 at the Wayback Machine., 1983 -- 1984 edition. Jump up ^ Saban, Mary Thompson, Wyoming Sage : Brief History of Wyoming. Updated January 17, 2004. Accessed June 10, 2005. Jump up ^ http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=4124 Jump up ^ Carter II, Edward C. ( 1971 -- 1972 ), `` Benjamin Henry Latrobe and the Growth and Development of Washington, 1798 - 1818 '', Records of the Columbia Historical Society : 139 Further reading Christian Montes. American Capitals : A Historical Geography ( University of Chicago Press ; 2014 ) 394 pages ; scholarly study of geographic and other factors that have shaped the designation of capitals in all 50 states External links Find more aboutstate capitalat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Wikimedia Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Learning resources from Wikiversity Florida Facts - The Capitol The Capitalization of Georgia The State Houses of Louisiana Las Vegas : Nevada 's Next State Capital ? 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Question: what is the most populous capital city in the us
Answer: Phoenix