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Which State's Capital Is Not Named After a President?

Published in U.S. State Capitals 5 mins read

The vast majority of United States state capitals are not named after a president. In fact, out of the fifty state capitals, only four bear the name of a former U.S. President. This means that 46 state capitals are not named after a president.

The four state capitals that are named after presidents are:

  • Jackson, Mississippi: Named after Andrew Jackson, the 7th U.S. President.
  • Jefferson City, Missouri: Named after Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd U.S. President.
  • Lincoln, Nebraska: Named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President.
  • Madison, Wisconsin: Named after James Madison, the 4th U.S. President.

All other 46 state capitals derive their names from various sources, including geographical features, Indigenous languages, historical figures who were not presidents, or simply as descriptive names reflecting their early development. Cities like Sacramento, California; Tallahassee, Florida; Albany, New York; and Columbus, Ohio, are prime examples of capitals not named after presidents, alongside the comprehensive list below.

Understanding Capital City Names

Capital cities are named through diverse historical processes, often reflecting the geography, local culture, or influential figures of their time. Common naming conventions include:

  • Geographical Features: Many capitals are named after nearby rivers, mountains, or unique landforms.
  • Indigenous Heritage: Some names honor the native peoples and their languages that historically inhabited the area.
  • Early Settlers or Founders: Key figures instrumental in the city's establishment or the state's early history often have places named after them.
  • Symbolic or Aspirative Names: Names chosen to represent ideals like peace, prosperity, or a new beginning.

Complete List of U.S. State Capitals and Their Naming Convention

The following table provides a complete overview of all U.S. state capitals, clearly indicating whether each is named after a president.

State Capital Named After a President?
Alabama Montgomery No
Alaska Juneau No
Arizona Phoenix No
Arkansas Little Rock No
California Sacramento No
Colorado Denver No
Connecticut Hartford No
Delaware Dover No
Florida Tallahassee No
Georgia Atlanta No
Hawaii Honolulu No
Idaho Boise No
Illinois Springfield No
Indiana Indianapolis No
Iowa Des Moines No
Kansas Topeka No
Kentucky Frankfort No
Louisiana Baton Rouge No
Maine Augusta No
Maryland Annapolis No
Massachusetts Boston No
Michigan Lansing No
Minnesota Saint Paul No
Mississippi Jackson Yes
Missouri Jefferson City Yes
Montana Helena No
Nebraska Lincoln Yes
Nevada Carson City No
New Hampshire Concord No
New Jersey Trenton No
New Mexico Santa Fe No
New York Albany No
North Carolina Raleigh No
North Dakota Bismarck No
Ohio Columbus No
Oklahoma Oklahoma City No
Oregon Salem No
Pennsylvania Harrisburg No
Rhode Island Providence No
South Carolina Columbia No
South Dakota Pierre No
Tennessee Nashville No
Texas Austin No
Utah Salt Lake City No
Vermont Montpelier No
Virginia Richmond No
Washington Olympia No
West Virginia Charleston No
Wisconsin Madison Yes
Wyoming Cheyenne No