State Capitals That Aren't the Biggest City
The most common mistakes on this quiz come from states where people instinctively name the largest or most famous city instead of the actual capital.
- Kentucky — Frankfort, not Louisville or Lexington
- Nevada — Carson City, not Las Vegas or Reno
- Illinois — Springfield, not Chicago
- New York — Albany, not New York City
- Pennsylvania — Harrisburg, not Philadelphia or Pittsburgh
- Michigan — Lansing, not Detroit or Grand Rapids
- Maryland — Annapolis, not Baltimore
- New Mexico — Santa Fe, not Albuquerque
- Montana — Helena, not Billings
- Vermont — Montpelier, not Burlington
State Capitals by the Numbers
A few facts worth knowing before or after the quiz:
- Most populous capital: Phoenix, Arizona — over 1.6 million residents.
- Least populous capital: Montpelier, Vermont — fewer than 8,000 residents.
- Largest capital by area: Juneau, Alaska — bigger than Rhode Island.
- Smallest capital by area: Annapolis, Maryland.
- Oldest capital: Santa Fe, New Mexico — founded in 1610.
- Only capital unreachable by road: Juneau, Alaska — accessible only by air or sea.
- Washington, D.C. is the federal capital but is not a state capital.
More U.S. State Symbol Quizzes
Once you've nailed the capitals, state flags and state nicknames are the next challenge — both have their own full 50-question quiz.
For a broader test, try the U.S. States General Knowledge Quiz, which mixes capitals, flags, birds, mottos, and nicknames in a single round.