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The 50 States and Capitals: A Study Guide with Memory Tricks
Learning the 50 states and capitals is a classic fourth-grade project, and it builds map skills that last. The trick is to learn them in small groups by region instead of memorizing one long alphabetical list.
Why capitals are tricky
A state capital is the city where the state government meets. It is often not the largest or best-known city. Chicago is Illinois's biggest city, but the capital is Springfield. New York City is not the capital of New York; Albany is. Point out these surprises to your child, because they are the ones people most often miss.
Northeast
| State | Capital | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | Hartford | New Jersey | Trenton |
| Delaware | Dover | New York | Albany |
| Maine | Augusta | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg |
| Maryland | Annapolis | Rhode Island | Providence |
| Massachusetts | Boston | Vermont | Montpelier |
| New Hampshire | Concord |
Southeast
| State | Capital | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Montgomery | Mississippi | Jackson |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | North Carolina | Raleigh |
| Florida | Tallahassee | South Carolina | Columbia |
| Georgia | Atlanta | Tennessee | Nashville |
| Kentucky | Frankfort | Virginia | Richmond |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge | West Virginia | Charleston |
Midwest
| State | Capital | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Springfield | Nebraska | Lincoln |
| Indiana | Indianapolis | North Dakota | Bismarck |
| Iowa | Des Moines | Ohio | Columbus |
| Kansas | Topeka | South Dakota | Pierre |
| Michigan | Lansing | Wisconsin | Madison |
| Minnesota | Saint Paul | Missouri | Jefferson City |
Southwest
| State | Capital | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Phoenix | Oklahoma | Oklahoma City |
| New Mexico | Santa Fe | Texas | Austin |
West
| State | Capital | State | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Juneau | Nevada | Carson City |
| California | Sacramento | Oregon | Salem |
| Colorado | Denver | Utah | Salt Lake City |
| Hawaii | Honolulu | Washington | Olympia |
| Idaho | Boise | Wyoming | Cheyenne |
| Montana | Helena |
Memory tricks
- Sound clues: "Juneau, Alaska" sounds like "Do you know...?" and "Boise" sounds like "boy-see."
- Names that give a clue: Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) and Indianapolis (Indiana) contain the state name, and Carson City (Nevada) is named after the frontiersman Kit Carson.
- The "Saint" capital: Saint Paul, Minnesota, sits right next to Minneapolis; together they are the "Twin Cities."
- Presidents: Jackson (Mississippi), Jefferson City (Missouri), Lincoln (Nebraska), Madison (Wisconsin), and Columbus (Ohio, named after Columbus the explorer) are capitals named after famous people.
- Silly stories: "Baton Rouge, Louisiana: a baton twirler painted her baton red" (rouge means red in French).
Commonly confused capitals
| State | Often guessed | Actual capital |
|---|---|---|
| California | Los Angeles | Sacramento |
| Florida | Miami | Tallahassee |
| Texas | Houston or Dallas | Austin |
| Washington | Seattle | Olympia |
| Pennsylvania | Philadelphia | Harrisburg |
| Illinois | Chicago | Springfield |
How to study
- Pick one region per week and say it aloud while pointing to the map.
- Use a blank outline map and let your child fill in states, then capitals.
- Make flash cards with the state shape on one side and the capital on the back.
- Play "20 questions": think of a state and answer yes/no questions about its location.
- Plan a pretend road trip across the capitals you have learned.
Practice quiz
- What is the capital of Colorado?
- Which state has the capital Montpelier?
- What is the capital of New York?
- What is the capital of Georgia?
- Which state has Salem as its capital?
- What is the capital of Hawaii?
- Which state has Santa Fe as its capital?
- Name the capital of Minnesota.
Answer key
1) Denver 2) Vermont 3) Albany 4) Atlanta 5) Oregon 6) Honolulu 7) New Mexico 8) Saint Paul
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