Explore US states and capitals map, Washington, D.C. (formally the District of Columbia), has been the national capital of the U.S. since 1800. Every state of the United States of America has their own capital, as do its insular areas have. Most states of the U.S. have not switched their capital since admission to the Union, but the capitals of their corresponding prior kingdoms, territories, colonies, and republics commonly altered many times. There are other governments in the present boundaries of America with their individual capital cities, like the Native American Tribal nations in the U.S., Republic of Texas, and other anonymous governments.
United States Map with Capitals in Albers Equal Area Projection
The above US states and capitals maps are showing all the 50 states of United States of America with their state capitals and national capital Washington D.C..
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US States and Capitals
The United States comprises 50 states and every state has a capital. The capital of each state serves as its seat of government and is home to many government buildings. Of these 50 states, 25 states of the U.S. have changed their capitals at least once. Ten states belong to the group of the thirteen original states. Oklahoma was the last U.S. state to change its capital. In 1910, Oklahoma moved its capital from Guthrie to Oklahoma City.
The ‘Capital Since’ column in the following table list the years when that particular city became the capital of the state.
S.N.
State
Abr.
State-hood
Capital
Area (mi²)
Capital since
Capital Population (2019 est.)
Population Rank in State (City Proper)
1
New Mexico
NM
1912
Santa Fe
37.3
1610
84,683
4
2
Massachusetts
MA
1788
Boston
89.6
1630
692,600
1
3
Maryland
MD
1788
Annapolis
6.73
1694
39,174
7
4
Delaware
DE
1787
Dover
22.4
1777
38,079
2
5
Virginia
VA
1788
Richmond
60.1
1780
230,436
4
6
New Jersey
NJ
1787
Trenton
7.66
1784
83,203
10
7
South Carolina
SC
1788
Columbia
125.2
1786
131,674
2
8
Kentucky
KY
1792
Frankfort
14.7
1792
27,679
14
9
North Carolina
NC
1789
Raleigh
114.6
1792
474,069
2
10
New York
NY
1788
Albany
21.4
1797
96,460
6
11
Vermont
VT
1791
Montpelier
10.2
1805
7,855
6
12
New Hampshire
NH
1788
Concord
64.3
1808
43,412
3
13
Pennsylvania
PA
1787
Harrisburg
8.11
1812
49,528
9
14
Ohio
OH
1803
Columbus
210.3
1816
898,553
1
15
Arkansas
AR
1836
Little Rock
116.2
1821
197,312
1
16
Mississippi
MS
1817
Jackson
104.9
1821
160,628
1
17
Florida
FL
1845
Tallahassee
95.7
1824
194,500
7
18
Indiana
IN
1816
Indianapolis
361.5
1825
876,384
1
19
Missouri
MO
1821
Jefferson City
27.3
1826
42,838
15
20
Tennessee
TN
1796
Nashville
525.9
1826
670,820
1
21
Maine
ME
1820
Augusta
55.4
1832
18,681
8
22
Illinois
IL
1818
Springfield
54
1837
114,230
6
23
Wisconsin
WI
1848
Madison
68.7
1838
259,680
2
24
Texas
TX
1845
Austin
305.1
1839
978,908
4
25
Hawaii
HI
1959
Honolulu
68.4
1845
345,064
1
26
Alabama
AL
1819
Montgomery
159.8
1846
198,525
2
27
Michigan
MI
1837
Lansing
35
1847
118,210
5
28
Minnesota
MN
1858
Saint Paul
52.8
1849
308,096
2
29
Washington
WA
1889
Olympia
16.7
1853
46,478
24
30
California
CA
1850
Sacramento
97.9
1854
513,624
6
31
Oregon
OR
1859
Salem
45.7
1855
174,365
3
32
Kansas
KS
1861
Topeka
56
1856
125,310
4
33
Iowa
IA
1846
Des Moines
75.8
1857
214,237
1
34
Utah
UT
1896
Salt Lake City
109.1
1858
200,567
1
35
Nevada
NV
1864
Carson City
143.4
1861
55,916
6
36
Idaho
ID
1890
Boise
63.8
1865
228,959
1
37
Colorado
CO
1876
Denver
153.3
1867
727,211
1
38
Nebraska
NE
1867
Lincoln
74.6
1867
289,102
2
39
Georgia
GA
1788
Atlanta
133.5
1868
506,811
1
40
Wyoming
WY
1890
Cheyenne
21.1
1869
64,235
1
41
Connecticut
CT
1788
Hartford
17.3
1875
122,105
3
42
Montana
MT
1889
Helena
14
1875
32,315
6
43
Louisiana
LA
1812
Baton Rouge
76.8
1880
220,236
2
44
North Dakota
ND
1889
Bismarck
26.9
1883
73,529
2
45
West Virginia
WV
1863
Charleston
31.6
1885
46,536
1
46
Arizona
AZ
1912
Phoenix
517.6
1889
1,680,992
1
47
South Dakota
SD
1889
Pierre
13
1889
13,646
8
48
Rhode Island
RI
1790
Providence
18.5
1900
179,883
1
49
Alaska
AK
1959
Juneau
2716.7
1906
32,113
3
50
Oklahoma
OK
1907
Oklahoma City
620.3
1910
655,057
1
Capital of Insular Areas
Insular area or Isolated area is a US territory or region that is not either a part or region of 1 of the 50 U.S. states and nor a region of the DC (District of Columbia), the US's national capital. Those isolated or insular territories with their capitals are mentioned below.
Capitals of US Insular Areas
S.N.
Abbreviation
Insular Areas Name
Capitals
Capital Since
Population (2010)
1
PR
Puerto Rico
San Juan
1898
3,95,326
2
MP
Northern Mariana Islands
Saipan
1947
48,220
3
VI
U.S. Virgin Islands
Charlotte Amalie
1917
18,481
4
AS
American Samoa
Pago Pago
1899
3,656
5
GU
Guam
Hagåtña
1898
1,051
Capitals of United States
According to the Articles of Confederation, which came into force on March 1, 1781, the U.S. did not have a stable capital. The cities mentioned below were those places where the colonial American congresses held their meetings. The present Constitution of the United States was authorized in 1787. The constitution bestowed upon the Congress the authority to exercise ‘absolute constitution upon a commune that was to the the United States government’s seat of power. This was to be after cession of a few particular states and the recognition of the Congress.
The meeting of the first Congress took place in New York in Federal Hall. The Residence Act was passed in 1790. As per this act, the country capital was to be established at a place near the Potomac River. This place came to be known as Washington D.C. But for the afterward 10 years, i.e.. until 1800, Philadelphia, was the short-lived capital of the United States and the meetings took place at the Congress Hall. On 17th November, 1800, the Congress moved from Philadelphia to Washington D.C and formally convened in the new capital. Since then the Congress has held all its meetings in Washington D.C, except on two occasions. On 16th July, 1987, it met at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall. The occasion commemorated the 200th commemoration of the constitution’s ratification. On September 6, 2002, it met at the New York’s Federal Hall National Memorial. It marked September 11 attacks first anniversary.
From 1754 to 1819, Congress met in numerous locations; therefore, the following cities can be said to have once been the United States capital.
Capital City
Building Name
State Name
Date (Start)
Date (End)
Governing Body
Albany
Stadt Huys
New York
19-Jun-1754
11-Jul-1754
Albany Congress
New York
City Hall
New York
7-Oct-1765
25-Oct-1765
Stamp Act Congress
Philadelphia
Carpenters' Hall
Pennsylvania
5-Sep-1774
26-Oct-1774
First Continental Congress
Philadelphia
Independence Hall
Pennsylvania
10-May-1775
12-Dec-1776
Second Continental Congress
Baltimore
Henry Fite House
Maryland
20-Dec-1776
27-Feb-1777
Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia
Independence Hall
Pennsylvania
5-Mar-1777
18-Sep-1777
Second Continental Congress
Lancaster
Court House
Pennsylvania
27-Sep-1777
27-Sep-1777
Second Continental Congress
York
Court House
Pennsylvania
30-Sep-1777
27-Jun-1778
Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia
College Hall[citation needed]
Pennsylvania
2-Jul-1778
1-Mar-1781
Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia
Independence Hall
Pennsylvania
2-Mar-1781
21-Jun-1783
Congress of the Confederation
Princeton
Nassau Hall
New Jersey
30-Jun-1783
4-Nov-1783
Congress of the Confederation
Annapolis
Maryland State House
Maryland
26-Nov-1783
19-Aug-1784
Congress of the Confederation
Trenton
French Arms Tavern
New Jersey
1-Nov-1784
24-Dec-1784
Congress of the Confederation
New York
City Hall
New York
11-Jan-1785
6-Oct-1788
Congress of the Confederation
New York
Federal Hall
New York
4-Mar-1789
5-Dec-1790
United States Congress
Philadelphia
Congress Hall
Pennsylvania
6-Dec-1790
14-May-1800
United States Congress
District of Columbia
United States Capitol
-
17-Nov-1800
24-Aug-1814
United States Congress
Washington, D.C.
Blodgett's Hotel
-
19-Sep-1814
7-Dec-1815
United States Congress
Washington, D.C.
Old Brick Capitol
-
4-Dec-1815
3-Mar-1819
United States Congress
Washington, D.C.
United States Capitol
-
4-Mar-1819
present
United States Congress
History of the United States
The story of the United States starts around 15,000 BC, when the earliest known settlers arrived in the Americas. These settlers formed various indigenous societies. By the 16th century, many of these cultures shifted due to internal and external factors.
European explorers set foot in the Americas in the late 15th century. However, most areas that became part of the U.S. weren't settled until after 1600. By the mid-18th century, 2.5 million people lived in thirteen British colonies, stretching from the Atlantic Coast to the Appalachian Mountains. The Southern Colonies relied heavily on enslaved Africans, whom they forcibly brought over, to propel their agriculture.
Frictions arose when the British imposed taxes, such as the 1765 Stamp Act, without the colonies' consent. Acts of defiance, like the Boston Tea Party in 1773, escalated tensions. Britain's retaliatory measures against self-governance led to the outbreak of armed confrontations in Massachusetts by 1775.
A year later, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia proclaimed the colonies' independence, naming them the "United States." Under General George Washington's leadership, they emerged victorious in the Revolutionary War. The 1783 peace treaty recognized the new nation. The initial Articles of Confederation struggled to maintain stability, prompting the creation of a more robust Constitution in 1789. To further safeguard citizens, a Bill of Rights was introduced in 1791.
Guided by President Washington and his main advisor, Alexander Hamilton, the U.S. established a robust central government. The country's territory grew substantially with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase from France.
Belief in "manifest destiny" fueled U.S. expansion to the Pacific. Although the landmass grew, the population was only about four million in 1790. This westward move was motivated by the allure of cheap land. However, the spread of slavery became contentious. While northern states abolished slavery by 1804, southern states, reliant on large-scale agriculture, persisted with the practice. The 1860 election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed slavery's expansion, was a breaking point. Southern states formed their own nation, leading to the Civil War. The conflict ended in 1865 with the Confederacy's defeat and slavery's nationwide abolition.
The subsequent Reconstruction period saw formerly enslaved males gain legal and voting rights. The national government's role expanded to protect these rights. Yet, by 1877, southern white Democrats, using force and legal barriers, reestablished dominance and enacted racially discriminatory "Jim Crow" laws.
The turn of the 20th century marked the U.S.'s rise as an industrial powerhouse, supported by entrepreneurism, industrial growth, and a surge of immigrants. Public dissatisfaction with corruption and traditional politics birthed the Progressive movement (1890s-1920s), bringing about reforms like direct senator elections, federal income tax, and women's voting rights. The U.S. entered World War I in 1917, supporting the Allies financially and militarily. The prosperous 1920s ended abruptly with the 1929 financial crash, plunging the world into the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal introduced measures to counter this crisis, including unemployment relief and a minimum wage.
After the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. joined World War II, aiding in the defeat of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. The war concluded with the U.S. dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending Japan's participation.
Post-war, the U.S. and the Soviet Union emerged as dominant, yet opposing, forces, marking the start of the Cold War. They battled through space exploration, arms development, and indirect military confrontations. The civil rights movement of the 1960s brought major social reforms, especially for African Americans. The 1980s, under President Ronald Reagan, emphasized tax and regulatory cuts. The Cold War concluded in 1991 with the Soviet Union's dissolution, leaving the U.S. unmatched globally. Later, the U.S.'s focus shifted to Middle Eastern conflicts, particularly after the tragic events of September 11. The 21st century saw the U.S. grappling with the financial crisis of the late 2000s and the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geography of the United States
Spanning a vast space, the United States and the District of Columbia cover a combined 3,119,885 square miles. Out of this, the land area, which includes 48 adjoining states, takes up 2,959,064 square miles, or roughly 83.65% of the country's total territory. Alaska, located in the northwestern corner of North America, claims about 15% of this space. The remainder lies in Hawaii, an island group in the central Pacific, and the territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In terms of land alone, the U.S. ranks behind Russia and China, but slightly ahead of Canada. When we consider both land and water areas, the U.S. stands as the world's third-largest nation after Russia and Canada.
Geographically, the Atlantic coast is predominantly a coastal plain, which transitions to the forested hills of the Piedmont inland. The Appalachian Mountains play a pivotal role, separating the eastern coast from the Midwest's Great Lakes and grasslands. Flowing through the nation's heart, the Mississippi–Missouri River system is the world's fourth-longest. The Great Plains, known for its flat and fertile terrain, stretches out westward.
The majestic Rocky Mountains rise up west of the plains and stretch from north to south, with some peaks, especially in Colorado, surpassing 14,000 feet. Beyond them lie the vast Great Basin and various deserts including the Mojave. The Pacific coast is flanked by the towering Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. Interestingly, the U.S.'s highest and lowest points are both in California and only about 84 miles apart. The grandeur of Alaska's Denali, at an elevation of 20,310 feet, makes it North America's tallest peak. Active volcanoes dot Alaska's Aleutian Islands, and Hawaii is known for its volcanic origins. The Yellowstone National Park houses North America's largest volcanic structure.
Climate of the United States
The U.S. boasts diverse climates due to its vast size. East of the 100th meridian, climates vary from the chilly humid continental in the north to the warm humid subtropical in the south. The Great Plains have a semi-arid climate, and the western mountains often have alpine conditions. Coastal California enjoys a Mediterranean climate, whereas regions like Alaska mostly experience subarctic or polar conditions. Hawaii and parts of Florida have tropical climates.
The Gulf of Mexico area is vulnerable to hurricanes, and the country, especially the Midwest and South, witnesses the highest number of tornadoes globally. The 21st century has seen the U.S. grappling with more frequent extreme weather events. For instance, heatwaves have tripled since the 1960s. Prolonged droughts have also been a concern in places like the Southwest.
Biodiversity in United States
The bald eagle, the U.S.'s national bird since 1782, symbolizes the country's rich biodiversity. The U.S. houses around 17,000 species of plants, with over 1,800 unique flowering plants in Hawaii alone. The nation is home to hundreds of mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species.
The U.S. takes pride in its 63 national parks and countless federally managed forests and wilderness areas. Almost 28% of the country's territory is publicly owned. While most of these areas are protected, some are leased for various economic activities.
Several environmental challenges face the U.S., including resource management, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), founded in 1970, addresses these issues. Concepts like wilderness conservation have guided land management since the 1960s. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects vulnerable species and their habitats.
In 2020, the U.S. ranked 24th out of 180 nations in terms of environmental performance. Though the U.S. briefly withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2020, it rejoined the global climate pact in 2021.
Facts about United States of America
Facts about US
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Government
Federal Presidential Constitutional Republic
House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi (Democratic Party)
Legislature
Congress
Lower House
House of Representatives
President
Joe Biden (Democratic Party)
Upper House
Senate
Vice President
Kamala Harris (Democratic Party)
Confederation
March 1, 1781
Constitution
June 21, 1788
Declaration
July 4, 1776
Independence from
Great Britain
Last State Admitted
August 21, 1959
Treaty of Paris
September 3, 1783
Total Area
3,796,742 square miles (9,833,520 square kilometers)
Total Land Area
3,531,905 square miles (9,147,590 square kilometers)
Water (%)
4.66%
GDP (Nominal) 2022 Estimate
Total: $24.8 Trillion, GDP Per Capita: $74,725
GDP (PPP) 2022 Estimate
Total: $24.8 Trillion, GDP Per Capita: $74,725
Gini (2020)
48.5
HDI (2019)
0.926
Highest Point
Denali 6,190 meters (Mount McKinley) (highest point in the continent of North America)
Lowest Point
Death Valley (lowest point in the continent of North America) -86 meters
2021 Estimate: 331,893,745 ; 2020 Census: 331,449,281 ; Population Density: 87/sq mi (33.6/km2)
Religion (2021)
63% Christianity, 40% Protestantism, 21% Catholicism, 2% Other Christian, 28% No religion, 6% Other, 2% Unanswered
Time Zone
UTC-4 to -12, +10, +11 ; Summer (DST): UTC-4 to -10
Date Format
mm/dd/yyyy
Net Migration Rate (2021 estimate)
3.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population
Former national capitals
Kingdom and Republic of Hawaii
Before becoming a territory of the US in 1898, Hawaii was an independent nation. 5 sites served as its capital:
Hawaii
Capital
During
Kingdom of Hawaii
Waikīkī
1795 - 1796
Hilo
1796 - 1803
Kailua-Kona
1812 - 1820
Lahaina
1820 - 1845
Honolulu
1803 - 1812
1845 - January 17, 1893
January 17, 1893 - July 4, 1894 (as the seat of the Hawaii's Provisional Government after the dethrone of the Kingdom of Hawaii)
Republic of Hawaii
July 4, 1894 - July 7, 1898
Territory of Hawaii
July 7, 1898 - 1959 (covered by the Newlands Resolution to turn into the Territory of Hawaii)
State of Hawaii
1959 - till date (Hawaii on becoming a state of the US in 1959)
Republic of Texas
Prior to joining the US under the Texas Annexation in 1845, the state of Texas was an autonomous nation acknowledged as the Republic of Texas. 7 cities served as its capital:
City
During
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 (present capital)
Native American capitals
Few Native American tribes, especially the 5 Civilized Tribes, formed their states with capitals and constitutions in Western style. Rest, like the Iroquois, had long-existing, pre-Columbian custom of a 'capitol' longhouse where council fires and wampum were continued with significant status. Since they did trade with the United States Federal Government, these capitals can be observe as officially accepted in some sense.
Cherokee Nation
Capital
During
New Echota
1825 - 1832
Red Clay
1832 - 1838
Tahlequah
1839 - 1907, 1938 - present
Cherokee
20th century - present (Cherokee's Eastern Band)
Muscogee Creek Nation
Capital
During
Hot Springs, Arkansas c.
1837-1866
Okmulgee
1867-1906
Iroquois Confederacy
Capital
During
Onondaga (Onondaga privilege c.)
1450-present
Seneca Nation of Indians
Jimerson Town (Allegany Reservation)
Irving (Cattaraugus Reservation)
Navajo Nation
Window Rock
Unrecognized national capitals
There have been few nations inside the present borders of the US which were never officially accepted as constitutionally autonomous sovereign entities; but, these entities did have actual regulation over their respective areas at the time of their existence.