1. Birmingham
   Montgomery
2. Tuscaloosa
   Dothan

Birmingham is Alabama's largest city, but Montgomery has been the capital since 1846. In 1952, Rosa Parks took her iconic stand on one of the city's buses and sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott that helped to fire up the Civil Rights Movements.

1. Juneau
   Anchorage
2. Homer
   Barstow

If you're looking for the perfect getaway, Juneau might be for you! With a population of slightly over 32,000, its remote location is only accessible by air or by ferry. You can pay to have your car shipped, but it's easy to get around on foot.

1. Sedona
   Scottsdale
2. Phoenix
   Tucson

Tucson and Prescott were once considered for the title of the capital city, but Phoenix won the prize in 1912. A dam on the Salt River allows the city to have more lush, green spaces than most other places in Arizona. With over 200 golf courses, it's a favorite of golfers everywhere.

1. Little Rock
   Jonesboro
2. Fayetteville
   Hot Springs

Little Rock was a city with a mayor before Arkansas became a state! Little Rock was upgraded to city status in 1835, but Arkansas statehood didn't happen until 1836. Little Rock is currently the most populated city in the state.

1. San Francisco
   Los Angeles
2. Sacramento
   San Diego

Vallejo, Benicia, Monterey and San Jose all spent time as California's capital. Eventually, in 1854, Sacramento was chosen because it doesn't sit near the ocean, which makes it less vulnerable to attack.

1. Denver
   Boulder
2. Pueblo
   Colorado Springs

Also called the Mile High City, Denver became Colorado's capital in 1881. Visitors to the capital complex marvel at the building's gold-tipped dome. The 24-karat gold leafing is said to be valued at over $116,000!

1. Bridgeport
   Hartford
2. New Haven
   Danbury

Hartford is not the state's most populated city, but it does have a lot of history. Both Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe once called the city home. Nicknamed the "Insurance Capital of the World," Hartford has the highest number of insurance professionals anywhere in the country.

1. Dover
   New Castle
2. Newark
   Wilmington

In 1787, Dover, Delaware's The Golden Fleece Tavern unknowingly became a very important site in U.S. history. When the U.S. Constitution was ratified there, it made Connecticut the first state to do so.

1. Jacksonville
   Orlando
2. Tallahassee
   Miami

Sitting at 200 feet above sea level, Tallahassee is both Florida's capital and the city with the highest elevation in the state. With both Florida State University and Florida A&M University located there, it welcomes over 50,000 students every year.

1. Atlanta
   Augusta
2. Savannah
   Macon

Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport measures bigger than 3,500 football fields. Every day, over 2,500 domestic and international flights depart from the capital city's airport gates.

1. Volcano
   Honolulu
2. Hilo
   Kailua

Before being called Honolulu, Hawaii's capital city was named Kulolia. When Hawaii statehood was received in 1959, the name was changed and it was officially designated as the capital. Although the name translates to "sheltered harbor," locals simply refer to the city as "town."

1. Idaho Falls
   Nampa
2. Coeur D'Alene
   Boise

First discovered by French-Canadian trappers, Boise was once nothing more than a thick forest surrounded by the Boise River. Now a technological hub, the city is home to over 225,000 residents.

1. Springfield
   Chicago
2. Rockfort
   Juliet

Abraham Lincoln wasn't born in Springfield, but he moved there in 1837. Every year, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum welcomes over 300,000 visitors. For a city of just over 116,000 residents, that's a lot of visitors!

1. Indianapolis
   Fort Wayne
2. Gary
   Bloomington

Indianapolis is well known for its huge auto race, the Indy 500. However, its business hub is just as much of a big deal. Home to many Fortune 500 companies, Indianapolis is the 27th-largest economic hub in the country.

1. Cedar Rapids
   Iowa City
2. Ames
   Des Moines

When Des Moines was first incorporated in 1851, it was officially called Fort Des Moines. Only six years later, council members voted to remove the Fort part of the name. Iowa's capital city is home to one of the world's largest farmer's markets. Every weekend, over 20,000 people come to shop there.

1. Wichita
   Salina
2. Topeka
   Kansas City

When construction began on the capitol building in Topeka, engineers missed their mark. Instead of using limestone, they opted for softer brownstone materials. The following year, part of it collapsed and builders were forced to re-examine their choices.

1. Lexington
   Frankfurt
2. Bowling Green
   Ashland

With a population of just over 25,000 people, Frankfort, Kentucky is the nation's smallest capital city. Stretching under 15 square miles, the city was named after pioneer Stephen Frank. The site where he perished was called Frank's Fort. Over time, it morphed into the name we know now.

1. Baton Rouge
   New Orleans
2. Shreveport
   LaFayette

Built in 1932, Baton Rouge's capital building stands 450-feet tall and boasts 34 floors. Unlike some capital buildings, Baton Rouge's pride and joy didn't take years to build. From start to finish, it was completed in under 15 months.

1. Montpelier
   Bangor
2. Portland
   Augusta

Maine's capital of Augusta rests about 35 miles from the Atlantic Ocean along the Kennebec River, and it's home to the country's oldest wooden fort that dates back to 1754. Named Fort Western, it was once home to a British military outpost.

1. Annapolis
   Baltimore
2. Bethesda
   Hagerstown

Named after Princess Anne, Annapolis received a blessing from the queen herself in 1708. Previously named Providence and home of the meeting place of the Continental Congress, the city served as the country's capital from 1783 to 1784.

1. Redding
   Boston
2. Revere
   Danbury

Home to almost five million people and known as "the birthplace of the American Revolution," Boston, Massachusetts has hosted a lot of firsts! From the first public park to the first chocolate factory and the invention of Dunkin Donuts, the city's history is endless.

1. Ann Arbor
   Detroit
2. Lansing
   Grand Rapids

Detroit was once Michigan's capital city, but things changed in 1847. With a need to build a western defense against British troops across the Canadian border, Lansing was chosen. Although small and undeveloped back then, it's now grown to almost 117,000.

1. Saint Paul
2. Minneapolis

The Minneapolis portion of the "twin cities" might be more populated of the two halves, but Saint Paul gets to be the capital. Once home to Amelia Earhart, F. Scott Fitzgerald and John Dillinger, the city has more than a few tales to tell.

1. Biloxi
   Tupelo
2. Hattiesburg
   Jackson

Jackson, Mississippi is often called the Crossroads of the South. The largest city in the entire state, Jackson is home to a historic blues district and the hospital that performed the world's first lung transplant in 1963.

1. Kansas City
   Jefferson City
2. St. Louis
   Columbia

Before being designated and built specifically to be the capital, Jefferson City was home to the "Boone Lick Trail" salt business. Owned by Daniel Boone's son, the salt empire grew into a town. It was his son who created the layout of the city.

1. Billings
   Bozeman
2. Butte
   Helena

After being discovered by four gold miners, Helena, Montana was almost given some interesting names. Some of the monikers kicked around were Crabtown, Pumpkinville and Squashville. Thankfully, one of them decided to name it after his home in Minnesota.

1. Omaha
   Lincoln
2. Bellevue
   Grand Island

Named after Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska is rated one of the best cities for personal well-being. Home to the University of Nebraska, Fortune 500 companies and the capitol's Sunken Gardens, it has something for everyone. In fact, the city's website invites you to move there!

1. Carson City
   Reno
2. Las Vegas
   Henderson

If you're looking to learn more about the American Wild West, Carson City is the place to go. Home to the Nevada State Museum and the Nevada State Railroading Museum, visitors are only one stop away from learning about the area's gold prospecting heritage.

1. Concord
   Nashua
2. Manchester
   Salem

Famous for its marble and its horse carriages, Concord, New Hampshire has been the capital since 1808. Contrary to popular belief, it did not get its name from a type of grape. It was named to reflect the new concord, or peace agreement, between two neighboring towns.

1. Atlantic City
   Newark
2. Trenton
   Princeton

For a brief period in 1784, Trenton, New Jersey, served as the capital of the United States. Steeped in history, it's also the site where George Washington had his first win against the British. It was also the host of the first reading of the Declaration of Independence.

1. Sante Fe
   Albuquerque
2. Farmington
   Carlsbad

Santa Fe's proximity to Mexico has given in a long-time advantage for being a market and trade hub. Located about 7,000 feet up in the Rocky Mountains, it was chosen to be the capital because of its easily defensible location.

1. New York
   Buffalo
2. Albany
   Altoona

Albany might not be New York's biggest city, but it has more charm than most capitals. Throughout its history, it's been home to some interesting characters including Herman Melville, Jimmy Fallon and Theodore Roosevelt. It was also home to a stop on the underground railroad.

1. Durham
   Wilmington
2. Asheville
   Raleigh

Sir Walter Raleigh, the British explorer who tried to colonize the new world in the 1500s, is North Carolina's namesake. When the metropolitan areas surrounding Raleigh are included in its population, there are over 1.2 million people there.

1. Bismarck
   Fargo
2. Grand Forks
   Jamestown

Before being named Bismarck, North Dakota's capital city was named Edwinton. When the Northern Pacific Railway came to town in 1873, they changed the name to honor the German statesman. They believed it would help attract more immigrants to the area.

1. Cleveland
   Columbus
2. Cincinnati
   Akron

You might not think of fashion when you think of Columbus, Ohio, but a lot of people do! Because companies like Victoria's Secret and DSW are headquartered there, it's considered the country's third-leading fashion city, behind New York and Los Angeles.

1. Tulsa
   Norman
2. Oklahoma City
   Edmond

When the Land Run of 1889 was opened, Oklahoma City got 10,000 new citizens every day! Now a metropolis of 1.3 million, the capital city is the third-largest in the state. A visit to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum can help explain how it got there.

1. Portland
   Eugene
2. Beaverton
   Salem

Salem, Oregon started life as a Methodist mission but has grown into a city of around 150,000 people. Sitting about an hour from Portland, Salem's pristine mountain valley water makes it an ideal place for wineries.

1. Harrisburg
   Pittsburgh
2. Philadelphia
   Erie

In 2010, Forbes Magazine named Harrisburg the second-best place to settle down. Once a thriving hub for the railroad industry, the town has seen its fair share of financial troubles. After filing bankruptcy in 2009, it seems to have rebounded with style.

1. Newport
   Cranston
2. Providence
   Warwick

One of the oldest cities in the U.S., Providence is the largest city in Rhode Island. After first being settled in 1636, it's been known for its silver making skills since the days of the Revolutionary War. It's often voted as one of the best places to live in New England.

1. Columbia
   Charleston
2. Myrtle Beach
   Spartanburg

There's no soda being manufactured in Columbia, South Carolina — the city gets its nickname by shortening Columbia to the word "cola." Although two-thirds of the city was burned down during the Civil War, it's still overflowing with historical buildings.

1. Aberdeen
   Pierre
2. Rapid City
   Watertown

Only 13,700 or so people call the city of Pierre, South Dakota their home. It's one of only four U.S. capitals that doesn't sit along an interstate. To reach the nearest highway, you would have to drive 35 minutes from Pierre's center.

1. Memphis
   Nashville
2. Johnson City
   Gatlinburg

Music City, USA is only one of Nashville's nicknames. Founded on December 24, 1779, and named after a Revolutionary War general, it quickly grew into a metropolis when it became a railroading hub. Now it's known for its rich country music history, and millions visit every year.

1. Houston
   Dallas
2. Austin
   Galveston

Whether you want to see the biggest bat colony in North America or take in SXSW, Austin, Texas, is the place for you! The capital city is smaller than a lot of other Texas giants, but it has a feel all its own. Home to the University of Texas and lots of green space, it's become a technological hub.

1. Salt Lake City
   Provo
2. Logan
   Ogden

We could go on and on about Salt Lake City's Mormon-based history, but we think it's much more important to mention the city's love for Jell-o. Per capita, residents of Salt Lake City eat more of the flavored gelatin, the official state snack, than anywhere else in the state.

1. Bennington
   Burlington
2. Stowe
   Montpelier

Montpelier, Vermont, has the smallest population of all the capitals in the United State. It's also one of the cleanest! Over 2,300 of its 7,500 citizens work for the local government and keep things running smoothly.

1. Roanoke
   Richmond
2. Manasses
   Virginia Beach

When Patrick Henry delivered his famous speech in a Richmond church in 1775 before the American Revolution, he had no idea about history that would later be made in the city. During the Civil War, it served at the capital of the Confederacy.

1. Seattle
   Bellingham
2. Olympia
   Aberdeen

Olympia, Washington rests approximately an hour from Seattle, and it's much smaller. As the 11th most populated city in the state, it's home to fewer than 50,000 residents. Nonetheless, it serves as an artsy hub and a gateway to the Pacific Ocean. It gets plenty of visitors!

1. Clarksburg
   Wheeling
2. Beckley
   Charleston

Although Wheeling was once the capital of West Virginia, Charleston has held the position since 1877. The capitol building located there is carved from Indiana limestone. Dedicated in 1932, it's one of the few state capitol buildings to feature a gold-tipped dome.

1. Milwaukee
   Madison
2. Green Bay
   Appleton

Madison, Wisconsin's location is one of the most unique locations of any capital. Once nothing more than swampland, it sits on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The spot was chosen and developed to serve as the capital for the Wisconsin Territory in 1836.

1. Cheyenne
   Jackson
2. Casper
   Cody

If rodeos are your thing, book yourself a trip to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Every year during the Cheyenne's Frontier Days celebration, a rodeo called the "Daddy of "em All" is held there. It's the largest in the world!