Capitals
States
Capitals Continued
States
Continued
States/Capitals
100
What is the capital of Illinois? HINT: Think Simpsons
What is Springfield (This was not the first capital; however, in 1853, with Lincoln's help Springfield became the temporary capital of Illinois but after running for the Presidency in 1860 against Stephen A. Douglas, where he made his famous "House Divided" speech and maintained an office after election to the Presidency in 1860; the capital remained Springfield.)
100
What state's capital is Montgomery?
What is Alabama (In 1819, the name was chosen to honor General Richard Montgomery, who had died in the Revolutionary War. Eleven days after Montgomery's founding, Alabama was admitted as a state.)
100
What is the capital of Minnesota?
What is St. Paul (The primary reason "St. Paul" is the capital is because it was near the historical center of trading and transportation in the 1850s.)
100
What state's capital is Honolulu?
What is Hawaii (Sometime around 1843, King Kamehameha III moved the capital from Lahaina, Maui to "Honolulu, Oahu" because it was the most important commercial and shipping point in all of Hawaii and had the largest population. It became a U.S. state on August 21, 1959 ~ the 50th state.)
100
What state's capital is Austin?
What is Texas ("Austin" was chosen because of its central location and a large number of natural resources. Named in honor of Stephen F. Austin, "the Father of Texas" who led the first legal & successful colonization of the region by bringing 300 families from different parts of the U.S.)
200
What is the capital of Wisconsin (the cheese capital of the World)?
What is Madison (Madison became the capital city of Wisconsin in 1837, named after President James Madison.)
200
What state's capital is "Jackson"?
What is Mississippi (Chosen in 1821 and named for Andrew Jackson in recognition of his victory in the Battle of New Orleans, the final major battle in the War of 1812.)
200
What is the capital of Nebraska?
What is Lincoln (Omaha was the original capital but it was considered too remote an area and the people of "Lancaster" changed their city's name to "Lincoln", in honor of President Abraham Lincoln in 1867 (following his assassination).
200
What state's capital is Topeka?
What is Kansas (In 1861, the Kansas River that ran through "Topeka" played a significant part in the Oregon Trail for settlers moving west.) Additionally, "Topeka" means "to dig good potatoes" in the languages of the Kansa and the Ioway Native Americans, which was an important prairie food for them.)
200
What is the capital of Idaho?
What is Boise (Meaning "wooded" or "City of Trees". Named the capital because it was near the Oregon Trail AND while a resolution was passed by the state legislature to move the capital from Lewiston to Boise. The move was very unpopular in the state so some members of the government snuck into the existing capital in Lewiston & stole the state seal and took it to Boise.)
300
What is the capital of Louisiana? HINT: It's a French word
What is Baton Rouge (French explorers noted a red cypress tree stripped of its bark that marked the boundary between Houma and Bayou Goula tribal hunting grounds. They called the tree "le baton rouge," or red stick.)
300
What state's capital is "Jefferson City"?
What is Missouri (Missouri was named for Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd President of the U.S. because of his expansion of U.S. territories which led to the Louisiana Purchase. Missouri was part of that purchase. Additionally, "Jefferson City" is located on the Missouri River near the geographic center of the state.
300
What is the capital of South Dakota? HINT: It's a French word
What is Pierre (In 1889, "Pierre" was chosen to be the state capital of South Dakota because of its central location and because of its location on the Missouri River.)
300
What state's capital is Salt Lake City?
What is Utah (In 1896, "Salt Lake City" was the most populated city in Utah and was chosen by the people because it was (a) flat and (b) the great salt lake. Most of Utah is mountainous so this made sense at the time.)
300
What is the capital of California?
What is Sacramento (Not the original capital. In 1854 became the capital due to Sacramento's location at the base of the foothills filled with Gold and only 90 miles inland from San Francisco; Sacramento was a major distribution center & the center of Gold Rush activities. This is the reason Sacramento was the starting point of the First Transcontinental Railroad which increased settlers moving west.)
400
What is the capital of Iowa? HINT: It's a French word
What is Des Moines (adapted from the French Rivière des Moines, literally meaning "River of the Monks.)
400
What state's capital is "Little Rock"? HINT: Bill Clinton is from this state
What is Arkansas (located in the middle of Arkansas, "Little Rock" is the state's capital and largest city. The name is derived from La Petite Roche (the "little rock" in French), a small rock formation on the south bank of the Arkansas River that served as a navigational landmark by early river travelers.)
400
What is the capital of Colorado?
What is Denver ("Denver" is the most populous city in the state of Colorado and "Denver" is nicknamed the Mile-High City because its official elevation is exactly one mile.)
400
What state's capital is Helena?
What is Montana
400
What state's capital is Olympia?
What is Washington ("Olympia" became the capital in 1889. Named as "Mount Olympus" for the Greek gods and chosen because it was the largest city in the state and a great shipping industry could be developed. Means "Place of the Bears".)
500
What is the capital of Oklahoma? HINT: The state's name is in the capital name
What is Oklahoma City (Did not become the "permanent" capital until 1910. "Oklahoma City" was named after the state which is from the Choctaw Indian words "okla" meaning people and "humma" meaning red. "Oklahoma City" is located where the Oklahoma Land Rush occurred as the last venture for "settlers" to gain land cheap by the federal government & the forcing of Native Americans from their "Oklahoma Territory" (1889).
500
What state's capital is Bismarck?
What is North Dakota ("Bismarck" became the capital of the Dakota Territory in 1883, mostly due to its central location in the territory, the location of the railroad, and the population increase in that area at that time.)
500
What is the capital of Wyoming?
What is Cheyenne (Named after the "Cheyenne Indian Tribe" it was the only city in Wyoming of any value in 1890. The location of "Cheyenne" is only minutes from the Colorado border which marked a significance having to do with being able stop on the Oregon and Mormon trails for settlers. It is also located close to water and eventually became a major stop for the Union Pacific railroad.)
500
What state's capital is Carson City?
What is Nevada (Became a state in 1864. "Carson City" named after Kit Carson ~ American frontiersman and Indian fighter who ought in the Mexican-American War, for the Union Army during the Civil War, the Navajo War, and Plains Indian Wars. Also chosen as the capital for the "silver" rush that was found in the 1860s.)
500
What is the capital of Oregon?
What is Salem ("Salem" means "resting place" to the Native Americans. Became the capital of Oregon in 1859 when it became a state. Congress knew of its importance for agriculture, fishing and lumber industries.)
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