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About This Quiz
Can you identify at least 35 U.S. state capitals? Here is your opportunity to prove that you've managed to retain the knowledge you absorbed during grade school. If nothing else, this cool geography quiz will refresh your memory and teach you a thing or two about the capital cities that span from sea to shining sea.
Isn't it a curious thing how cities get promoted to capital status? What on earth are the qualifications for being the capital city of a U.S. state? A large population certainly can't be a qualification. Some of America's capital cities have the lowest population numbers of their respective states, as you shall soon see in this quiz. Does square mileage count? Probably not; capital cities come in all shapes and sizes. Maybe after taking this quiz, you will have discerned the pattern for electing capital cities and solve this riddle once and for all. But first, your priority is the simple task of matching capital city to U.S. state.
You only need to coordinate 35 out of 50 capital-state pairs. This test is a piece of cake.
Alaska's capital city lies along the Gastineau Channel. What is its name?
Fairbanks
Juneau
Juneau, Alaska, was founded in 1880 and incorporated in 1900. Gold miners settled the southeastern city, which serves as a trading zone for the Alaska Panhandle region.
Wasilla
Sitka
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Latter-day Saints arrived in a major valley of Utah's capital city in 1847. Can you identify the city's name?
Salt Lake City
The state of Utah was named after the Utes American Indian tribe. Elaborate mining operations occur in Utah's capital, Salt Lake City. There, selenium, platinum, zinc, silver, gold, copper and other elements are unearthed.
Ogden
Park City
Provo
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Which capital city of Colorado has denoted more than 300 landmarks, which is more than any other U.S. city of similar size?
Pueblo
Aspen
Grand Junction
Denver
Much of the water supply in Denver, Colorado, comes from melting mountain snow in the spring. The water is either stored in reservoirs or prevented from entering the South Platter River and other bodies of water.
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Which city has been the state capital of Kentucky since 1792?
Bowling Green
Somerset
Frankfort
Thoroughbred horses are produced in Frankfort, Kentucky, which serves as the Bluegrass region's center of trade. The Bluegrass region has the most mineral-rich land in the state.
Covington
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Which capital city lies in the heart of Connecticut?
Hartford
Hartford Public High School in Connecticut's capital city is the second oldest secondary school that is still in operation in the United States. The school was founded in 1638.
Waterbury
Greenwich
New Haven
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Louisiana State University is located in Louisiana's capital city of ________.
Lafayette
Shreveport
Baton Rouge
"Baton Rouge" is a French name that literally means "red stick." Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana and a major industrial port along the Mississippi River.
Metairie
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What capital city is located in the north-central region of New Mexico?
Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico, is situated along the Santa Fe River. The original name of the capital city was Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco de Asis, which is Spanish for "Royal City of the Holy Faith of St. Francis of Assisi."
Roswell
Hobbs
Ruidoso
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South Carolina's capital city was mostly destroyed by a massive conflagration that occurred on February 17, 1865, during the Civil War. Where did this inferno take place?
Greenville
Myrtle Beach
Florence
Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina, lies in the upper eastern-central region of the state. The South Carolina State House is located in the capital city and is the state's center of government.
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What's the name of Pennsylvania's capital city, which lies on the east bank of the Susquehanna River?
Allentown
Erie
Harrisburg
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is a major producer of electronic devices. The Harrisburg capitol building was designed to resemble St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Italy.
Scranton
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In October of 1935, a devastating earthquake occurred in Montana's capital city of _______.
Butte
Helena
Atop the copper dome cover of the capitol building in Helena, Montana, is a smaller replica of the Statue of Liberty. Helena is a major agricultural hub for the state.
Bozeman
Big Sky
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Can you guess Oregon's capital city, which lies approximately 43 miles south of Portland?
Albany
Bend
Salem
Railroad construction in the 1870s stimulated economic growth in Salem, Oregon. The food industry, especially, continues to flourish in the capital city.
Beaverton
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The capital city of Vermont is situated in the state's northwest-central region. Can you name the city?
Rutland City
Essex
Montpelier
Montpelier lies along the Winooski River in Vermont. Tourism and insurance are the capital city's major industries.
South Burlington
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Barton Creek and the Colorado River are two major waterways that flow through what capital city of Texas?
El Paso
Waco
Arlington
Austin
Austin, Texas, is a major hub for biotechnology, telecommunications and computer technology. Austin is also renowned for its bustling music scene.
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Ohio's capital city is the home of the state university's main campus. What is the name of the city?
Columbus
In the 21st century, close to half of the population of the United States lies within a 500-mile radius of Columbus, Ohio. Manufacturing (e.g., automobiles, nutritional supplements, steel) and technology are major industries in the capital city.
Akron
Findlay
Cleveland
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What is Minnesota's capital city, which lies near the state's eastern border?
Duluth
Saint Paul
There are a number of educational institutions that call St. Paul, Minnesota, home, including Hamline University, Concordia University and the University of St. Thomas. The annual St. Paul Winter Carnival showcases snow and ice sculptures, parades and winter events.
Mankato
Eagan
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The most destructive tornado in Wyoming's history happened in its capital city of _________ on July 16, 1979.
Cody
Sheridan
Cheyenne
Timber, plastics and health care are a few thriving industries in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The capital city is home to Frontier Days, which is one of America's oldest rodeos.
Riverton
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What is the name of Arizona's capital city, which lies in the state's south-central region?
Tucson
Tempe
Phoenix
Prior to the mid-20th century, Phoenix's major industries were agriculture and ranching. Since then, Arizona's capital city has grown to become a major urban center where the technology and tourism industries have blossomed.
Sedona
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Florida's capital city is situated at its northern border. What is the name of the city?
Tallahassee
Major local attractions in Tallahassee, Florida, include the Museum of Florida History and the Columns, which is the city's oldest building (established in 1830). Government, distribution and trade services are key components of the city's economy.
Tampa
Miami
Orlando
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What is the name of Mississippi's largest city and capital, where the Pearl River outlines its eastern perimeter?
Gulfport
Starkville
Jackson
Jackson, Mississippi, lies along the Pearl River in the western-central region of the state. Major industries in the capital city include livestock services and telecommunications.
Tupelo
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What is the capital city situated in New Hampshire's southeast region?
Nashua
Keene
Derry
Concord
New Hampshire's capital city is situated along the Merrimack River. The printing industry played a pivotal role in Concord's economic development.
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What is the capital city of Arkansas, which is situated in the center of the state, close to the Ouachita Mountains?
Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas, borders the western bank of the Arkansas River in the state's central region. Financial, governmental and food services are several industries that contribute to Little Rock's economy.
Rogers
Conway
Springdale
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What is the name of Hawaii's capital city and main port?
Kihei
Honolulu
Several major industries in Hawaii rely on the state's main port, including sugar refinement and steel production. University of Hawaii and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific are located in Honolulu.
Kailua
Kapolei
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Georgia's state capital is situated in the northwest region of the state. What is the city's name?
Savannah
Atlanta
Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia by population. The capital city is a major metropolitan hub for the state and a vital transportation center for the southeastern region of the United States.
Marietta
Macon
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Can you guess the capital city of Maryland, which has the highest rate of rising sea level than any other Atlantic Coast town?
Rockville
Bethesda
Frederick
Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland, lies at the juncture of the Severn River and the Chesapeake Bay in the heart of the state. Annapolis is an important military and government center for the region. This capital city is home to the United States Naval Academy.
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What is the name of Michigan's capital city, which lies near the state's southern edge?
Flint
Saginaw
Lansing
Lansing, Michigan, encompasses the eastern bank of the Grand River. The automobile industry is a major contributor to the capital city's economy.
Dearborn
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The 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building occurred in Oklahoma's capital city of _____________.
Norman
Tulsa
Enid
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is located in the center of the state and is its biggest municipality. Several important industries for the city include energy, technology and health services.
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What is the name of the capital city that borders the eastern bank of the Missouri River in North Dakota?
Minot
Mandan
Bismarck
The Belle Mehus Auditorium opened in January 1914 and is a major cultural center in Bismarck, North Dakota. Coal, oil, and gas refinement and distribution services are key components of the capital city's economy.
Fargo
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The Kennebec River bisects this capital city in Maine. What is the name of the city?
Lewiston
Bangor
Portland
Augusta
Massachusetts traders from Plymouth colony settled in Maine's capital city in 1628. Augusta is home to the University of Maine at Augusta.
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Salt Creek winds through Nebraska's capital city of ___________.
Omaha
Bellevue
Kearney
Lincoln
Lincoln is the capital city of Nebraska, and it's the state's second-largest municipality. Lincoln lies approximately 60 miles southwest of Omaha, which borders the state's eastern edge, opposite the state of Iowa.
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This capital city encompasses two substantial bodies of water in Washington state. What is the city's name?
Tacoma
Yakima
Olympia
The Budd Inlet to the north and Capitol Lake to the south bisect the capital city of Olympia, Washington. Olympia lies southwest of Seattle, Washington, by approximately 60 miles.
Seattle
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In post-World War II America, many African Americans flocked to the rigidly segregated districts of North Carolina's capital city of __________.
Greensboro
Cary
Wilmington
Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina, is a major educational center in the state. The capital city is home to North Carolina State University and Shaw University. Raleigh is part of North Carolina's Research Triangle, which includes the cities of Durham and Chapel Hill.
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What is the name of the capital city that borders the western banks of the Seekonk and Providence Rivers in Rhode Island?
Newport
Providence
Providence, Rhode Island, is home to Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design. The capital city was incorporated in 1831.
Cranston
Warwick
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Can you name the capital city that partially borders the eastern edge of Lake Tahoe in Nevada?
Reno
Carson City
Carson City, Nevada, is situated in Eagle Valley near the Sierra Nevada Range. Legalized gambling and copper and silver mining are important industries in the capital city.
Las Vegas
Sparks
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What is the name of the capital city that is bisected by the Kanawha River in West Virginia?
Huntington
Beckley
Fairmont
Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia, is the state's most populous city. The city is rich in natural gas, petroleum and coal; mining contributes to a diversified chemical manufacturing industry.
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The Des Moines River, Iowa's longest river, spans 485 miles in the state's capital city of __________.
Des Moines
The Des Moines River and Raccoon River both flow through Iowa's capital city. Des Moines is home to Drake University and is the state's most populous city.
Ames
Waterloo
Ottumwa
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You Got:
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