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Why the capitals of Usa aren't related whith the main city of the state?
I imagine that it's because each state wants to poblate territories, and thist way having less popultaion in the big cities.
My doubt is when did this started?, and if it what aprobed by the federal gouberment.
4 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
While Quizzard is correct that the population centers of states change over time, a more common reason is that many states choose centrally located capital cities, while their major cities can be found near the edge of the state.
Illinois, for instance, went with centrally located Springfield, instead of Chicago. Michigan went with centrally located Lansing, instead of Detroit. Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, all follow that pattern.
The Federal government has nothing to do with the selection of state capitals.
Here is a list of states whose capital city is not the same as their largest city
State - Capital - Largest City
Alabama Montgomery Birmingham
Alaska Juneau Anchorage
California Sacramento Los Angeles
Connecticut Hartford Bridgeport
Delaware Dover Wilmington
Florida Tallahassee Jacksonville
Illinois Springfield Chicago
Kansas Topeka Wichita
Kentucky Frankfort Lexington
Louisiana Baton Rouge New Orleans
Maine Augusta Portland
Maryland Annapolis Baltimore
Michigan Lansing Detroit
Minnesota St. Paul Minneapolis
Missouri Jefferson City Kansas City
Montana Helena Billings
Nebraska Lincoln Omaha
Nevada Carson City Las Vegas
New Hampshire Concord Manchester
New Jersey Trenton Newark
New Mexico Santa Fe Albuquerque
New York Albany New York City
North Carolina Raleigh Charlotte
North Dakota Bismarck Fargo
Oregon Salem Portland
Pennsylvania Harrisburg Philadelphia
South Dakota Pierre Sioux Falls
Tennessee Nashville Memphis
Texas Austin Houston
Vermont Montpelier Burlington
Virginia Richmond Virginia Beach
Washington Olympia Seattle
Wisconsin Madison Milwaukee
- 1 decade ago
State capitals were established historically in (generally) the largest and most important cities of the time. However, in a new and growing country, the situation changes for a multitude of mainly economic reasons, so that at some point, other more desirable cities became larger.
So while it seems that Albany, New York is an odd choice for capital, in truth it was the main population center in the 1700s.
- edelsonLv 44 years ago
The "capitol" city is Helena, interior the middle area of the state. that's a alluring city that sits top up against the mountains. The state capitol became renovated a pair years back and curiously remarkable. you are able to desire to go and take a pair of days for a visit.
- don_sv_azLv 71 decade ago
To add to the first answer and get to the second part of your question. For the largest part of their decisions, the federal government has no say in what the state governments do.
The states do not need the approval of the federal government to set or change the location of their state capitol. It is called "State's Rights".