RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesJackson is Mississippi's capital because of its central location in the state. Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Most states have had multiple capital cities throughout their histories.
Most commonly, geography and transportation links were the biggest factors in determining a capital.
Most capitals have been decided through legislative or statewide votes.
From railroad hubs and river towns to hard-fought votes and alleged bribes, America's state capitals took wildly different paths to power.
Today, in 17 states, the capital is also the most populous city. Phoenix , the nation's most populous state capital, has more than 1.6 million residents, while Montpelier, Vermont, has fewer than 8,000, according to the latest Census estimates.
But population was often far from the deciding factor when designating a state capital. Many were selected hundreds of years ago, when some of today's cities were little more than stretches of undeveloped land.
Some were simply designated as state capitals by legislative or popular vote, while others were subject to political trickery and corruption, and some were chosen because they were the sites of new, booming industries. In a few cases, townspeople even chipped in to fund the new capitol buildings .
Most commonly, cities were chosen based on their geographic location. Before modern transportation, rivers and railroads were the best means of transit. As such, many state capitals sit along rivers or were chosen for their central locations to allow legislators to travel easily from every corner of the state.
From Alabama to Wyoming, see how every state's capital earned the title.
ALABAMA: Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama. fotoguy22/Getty Images
Though Alabama became a state in 1819, Montgomery didn't become its capital until 1846. Before statehood, the territorial capital was located in the town of St. Stephens, chosen for its proximity to the Tombigbee River, according to the Montgomery Advertiser .
The capital soon changed to Huntsville, then Cahaba and Tuscaloosa, after statehood. Montgomery was finally decided upon for its central location amid changes in the state's transportation, economy, and geography, the Advertiser reported.
ALASKA: Juneau
Juneau, Alaska. JillianCain/Getty Images
Anchorage is Alaska's most populous city with nearly 300,000 residents, per the most recent Census estimates. But Alaska's capital sits more than 500 miles southeast in the small city of Juneau.
Juneau's initial growth came in part from its booming gold-mining industry. When it became the new capital of territorial Alaska in 1906, it was Alaska's biggest city, according to KTOO . The capital city was previously Sitka, which sits on an island in Alaska's Alexander Archipelago.
In Juneau's 120-year history as Alaska's capital, many efforts in the state legislature have been made to move the capital to Anchorage, largely because of travel difficulties for elected officials.
In 1974, voters approved an initiative to relocate the capital, but subsequent proposals to finance the move were rejected, KTOO reported.
ARIZONA: Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona. Leonid Andronov/Getty Images
Arizona's territorial capital moved from Prescott to Tucson, back to Prescott, and finally to Phoenix in 1889, per KJZZ Phoenix .
Phoenix, originally founded as Swilling's Mill in 1867 by a Confederate veteran, started to expand toward the end of the 19th century. It was chosen as the capital in 1889 due to its growing significance in transportation and agriculture. It wasn't until 1912 that Arizona became a state.
Today, Phoenix is home to 1.67 million residents and is the most populous state capital in the US.
ARKANSAS: Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas. ChrisBoswell/Getty Images/iStockphoto
When Arkansas was a territory, its capital sat in Arkansas Post, a location which held significance during French and Spanish control of the area, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas . However, it was also the site of flooding and illnesses like malaria.
Little Rock was chosen as the territory's capital in 1821 largely due to interest from settlers. Located along the Arkansas River, the new settlement allowed for travel via the Mississippi River. Arkansas was granted statehood 15 years later.
CALIFORNIA: Sacramento
Sacramento, California. casch/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Though Monterey served as California's capital during Spanish and Mexican rule, San Jose was the first designated capital when California became a US state, per the California Capitol Museum .
The capital moved to Vallejo before Sacramento was chosen for its proximity to rivers, as well as the infrastructure and transportation links it already had in place.
Just two months after moving its headquarters to Sacramento, the state government was forced to move back to Vallejo due to flooding. The capital later moved to Benicia before permanently returning to Sacramento.
COLORADO: Denver
Denver, Colorado. Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images
Before Colorado was a state, Colorado City and Golden served as its capital cities in the 1860s. Denver, becoming a growing population center and commercial hub, was picked as the temporary capital in 1876.
In 1881, voters chose to keep Denver as the capital in a referendum, according to the Colorado State Capitol Visitor Guide .
CONNECTICUT: Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut. ChrisBoswell/Getty Images
Connecticut's capital history dates back to the turn of the 18th century. In 1701, the Connecticut Colony's General Court established two capital cities: Hartford and New Haven. General Assembly meetings would alternate between the two locations, according to Connecticut History .
In the 1870s, the state held a referendum to choose between the two cities, citing the impracticality of the current system. Hartford won out and officially became the state's capital in 1875.
DELAWARE: Dover
Dover, Delaware. hyderabadi/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Delaware's capital came about as a direct...
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