State capitals are not always the largest cities in a state by population. Often, they are little-known for people who live outside these states. How many people realize that Lansing is the capital of Michigan, for instance? (Shouldn’t the decision have been to locate the capital in Detroit?)
Sometimes, though, a state’s capital is also its largest and most famous city. Boston and Indianapolis are good examples. Another one is America’s largest state capital: Phoenix, Arizona.
In the book “American Capitals: A Historical Geography,” author Christian Montès points out that capitals were often picked by state legislatures, but some were chosen by governors or popular vote. Another notable fact about state capitals is how few are named after people. There are a small number of exceptions, like Jefferson City, Missouri, and Lincoln, Nebraska. (Click here to see the strangest town names in every state and where they came from.)
To determine America’s largest state capital, and to note where other capitals rank in size, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the U.S. Census Bureau to review all 50 state capitals based on population.
Click here to see America’s largest state capital
Some are unusually small. Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, is the smallest of all, with a population of less than 8,000. Pierre, South Dakota, has fewer than 14,000 people, and the population of Augusta, Maine, is less than 20,000.
Phoenix, on the other hand, has a population of 1.7 million. Phoenix became a city in 1881, 31 years before Arizona became a state – and today it is the only U.S. state capital with more than a million residents. (See the largest city in every state.)
50. Vermont
> Capital city: Montpelier
> Population: 7,372
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49. South Dakota
> Capital city: Pierre
> Population: 13,867
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48. Maine
> Capital city: Augusta
> Population: 18,697
47. Kentucky
> Capital city: Frankfort
> Population: 27,755
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46. Alaska
> Capital city: Juneau
> Population: 31,974
45. Montana
> Capital city: Helena
> Population: 33,124
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44. Delaware
> Capital city: Dover
> Population: 38,166
43. Maryland
> Capital city: Annapolis
> Population: 39,223
42. Missouri
> Capital city: Jefferson City
> Population: 42,708
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41. New Hampshire
> Capital city: Concord
> Population: 43,627
40. West Virginia
> Capital city: Charleston
> Population: 46,536
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39. Pennsylvania
> Capital city: Harrisburg
> Population: 49,271
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38. Washington
> Capital city: Olympia
> Population: 52,882
37. Nevada
> Capital city: Carson City
> Population: 55,916
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36. Wyoming
> Capital city: Cheyenne
> Population: 64,235
35. North Dakota
> Capital city: Bismarck
> Population: 73,529
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34. New Jersey
> Capital city: Trenton
> Population: 83,203
33. New Mexico
> Capital city: Santa Fe
> Population: 84,683
32. New York
> Capital city: Albany
> Population: 96,460
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31. Illinois
> Capital city: Springfield
> Population: 114,230
30. Michigan
> Capital city: Lansing
> Population: 118,210
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29. Connecticut
> Capital city: Hartford
> Population: 122,105
28. Kansas
> Capital city: Topeka
> Population: 125,310
27. South Carolina
> Capital city: Columbia
> Population: 131,674
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26. Mississippi
> Capital city: Jackson
> Population: 160,628
25. Oregon
> Capital city: Salem
> Population: 174,365
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24. Rhode Island
> Capital city: Providence
> Population: 179,883
23. Florida
> Capital city: Tallahassee
> Population: 194,500
22. Arkansas
> Capital city: Little Rock
> Population: 197,312
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21. Alabama
> Capital city: Montgomery
> Population: 198,525
20. Utah
> Capital city: Salt Lake City
> Population: 200,567
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19. Iowa
> Capital city: Des Moines
> Population: 214,237
18. Louisiana
> Capital city: Baton Rouge
> Population: 220,236
17. Idaho
> Capital city: Boise
> Population: 228,959
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16. Virginia
> Capital city: Richmond
> Population: 230,436
15. Wisconsin
> Capital city: Madison
> Population: 259,680
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14. Nebraska
> Capital city: Lincoln
> Population: 289,102
13. Minnesota
> Capital city: Saint Paul
> Population: 308,096
12. Hawaii
> Capital city: Honolulu
> Population: 345,064
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11. North Carolina
> Capital city: Raleigh
> Population: 474,069
10. Georgia
> Capital city: Atlanta
> Population: 506,811
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9. California
> Capital city: Sacramento
> Population: 513,624
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8. Oklahoma
> Capital city: Oklahoma City
> Population: 655,057
7. Tennessee
> Capital city: Nashville
> Population: 670,820
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6. Massachusetts
> Capital city: Boston
> Population: 692,600
5. Colorado
> Capital city: Denver
> Population: 727,211
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4. Indiana
> Capital city: Indianapolis
> Population: 876,384
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3. Ohio
> Capital city: Columbus
> Population: 898,553
2. Texas
> Capital city: Austin
> Population: 978,908
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1. Arizona
> Capital city: Phoenix
> Population: 1,680,992
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