State Capitals Connection Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ends in the letter "A"

There are six state capitals that end in the letter "A". The only one not mentioned in this quiz is Helena, Montana. Topeka derives its name from the Kansa-Osage language. It comes from a word meaning "a good place to dig potatoes." The city played an important role in ending school segregation when the Brown v. Topeka Board of Education case reached the US Supreme Court.

Answer: Ends in the letter "A"

Olympia was named after the Olympic Mountains, which can be seen northwest of the city. It is known for its natural beauty and its vibrant music scene. Olympia is known around the world for its punk rock genre scene. Bands such as Nirvana, The Fleetwoods and Bikini Kill have roots in Olympia.

Answer: Ends in the letter "A"

After Montpelier, Vermont, and Pierre, South Dakota, Augusta is the third least populous US state capital. It is also the easternmost state capital in the United States. Reportedly the town was named after Pamela Augusta Dearborn, the daughter of Henry Dearborn, an American soldier and statesman who served under Benedict Arnold in the invasion of Quebec.

Answer: Ends in the letter "A"

Columbia is the first city in the US named for Christopher Columbus. The city was founded in 1786 but many of the city's early historical buildings were destroyed when it was burned down by Union troops under the command of Gen. William T. Sherman, late in the Civil War.

The city is nicknamed "Soda City" not because any soft drink was discovered there but because locals referred to the city as "Cola", a shortened form of the name, Columbia.

Answer: Ends in the letter "A"

Atlanta is Georgia's largest city. It is the birthplace of Coca-Cola. It also claims to be the birthplace of hip-hop music and the US civil rights movement, as well as the home of the first Waffle House and Chick-fil-a restaurants.

Answer: Named after US President

Named in honor of Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln became the state capital in 1869. The original capital was in Omaha. A movement was started to move the capital toward the center of the state, with Lancaster being considered the best place for the new capital. An Omaha state senator wanted the capital to stay in his hometown, so he proposed to rename Lancaster "Lincoln", to honor the assassinated president. With many residents of southern Nebraska sympathetic to the Confederate army, the senator hoped that renaming the town Lincoln would cause people to want to keep the capital in Omaha.

His efforts failed and the state government moved to the newly named town of Lincoln.

Answer: Named after US President

In 1836 Madison was founded and named after American Founding Father and President James Madison. In the same year, due to its central location, it was named the state capital . Madison is one of only two major cities in the United States that is built on an isthmus. The other is Seattle, Washington. The city is the home of the University of Wisconsin.

Answer: Named after US President

Jackson was founded as the state's capital in 1821. It is named after General Andrew Jackson, a war hero during the War of 1812 and the seventh U.S. president. Jackson, along with Moscow, Helsinki, and Varna Bulgaria are the only four cities that host the International Ballet Competition.

It has hosted the tournament every four years since 1979. On June 11, 1963, the world's first human lung transplant was performed in Jackson by Dr. James Hardy.

Answer: Ends in the letter "U"

Juneau became the capital of Alaska in 1906, fifty-three years before it became a state. it is located on the Alaska mainland but there are no roads that connect Juneau to the rest of Alaska or North America. Therefore, it is only accessible by boat or airplane. With a total area of 3,255 square miles, it is larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware.

It is also the only state capital to border another country, bordering Canada.

Answer: Ends in the letter "U"

Honolulu is known for Pearl Harbor, its beautiful beaches, its surfing scene and for being one of the most expensive US cities in which to live. The name "Honolulu" means "calm port" or "sheltered harbor" in Hawaiian. It is home to the only Royal palace in the USA.

In 1795, the Kingdom of Hawaii was formed. During the reign of Kamehameha I, the ruler decreed that Honolulu became his capital. He commissioned the construction of Iolani Palace but died before it was completed. Today it houses the Supreme Court.

Answer: Has name with two words

Carson City became the capital of the Nevada Territory in 1861. Carson City was named after the popular frontiersman and scout, Christopher "Kit" Carson. Because of its stunning natural beauty many movies and television shows have been filmed around Carson City. Among them are "Bonanza", "The Shootist", "Misery" and "Pink Cadillac".

Answer: Has name with two words

The Iowa capital's name is believed to be derived from the French "Rivière des Moines," meaning "River of the Monks". Originally named Fort Des Moines, it was established as a military outpost in 1843. It became the state's capital in 1857. It is known for its vibrant insurance industry.

Answer: Has name with two words

"Baton Rouge" is French for "Red Stick." According to legend, over 300 years ago French explorer Sieur d'Iberville spotted a cypress stick stained with the blood of animals on a Mississippi River bluff. The red stick served as the dividing line between the Bayougoula and Houma tribes' hunting grounds.

In 1779, the British were moving up the Mississippi River, in what is now part of Louisiana. Spanish Louisiana Governor Bernado de Galvez marched upriver with a rag tag army of Spaniards, Americans, Acadians, Native Americans and free black men, engaged the British in battle and won the Battle of Baton Rouge.

This was the only American Revolution battle fought outside the original thirteen colonies and it kept the British from taking control of the Mississippi River.

Answer: Has name with two words

The name "Little Rock" comes from an actual little rock. While travelling through the area, French explorer Bernard de la Harpe christened a small rock formation on the Arkansas River as La Petite Roche ("the little rock"). Over the next several decades a trading post, ferry and tavern were built on the site and in 1821 it becomes the Arkansas territorial capital before becoming the state capital in 1836.

In 1957 the city made international news when nine African American students entered Central High School, under heavy security, to help end racial segregation in the USA.

Answer: Has name with two words

Saint Paul was originally called Pig's Eye after one-eyed fur trader, Pierre Parrant, who settled there and opened the Pig's Eye Tavern. The city was renamed Saint Paul in 1841 after Minnesota's first Catholic priest, Lucien Galtier, built a log chapel dedicated to the Apostle Paul.

In 1849 the town was named the territorial capital and in 1858 it became the state capital. At twenty-six miles, Saint Paul has more Mississippi River riverfront than any other city along the river. Saint Paul, located on the east side of the Mississippi River, along with Minneapolis, which is on the west side of the river, make up Minnesota's largest metropolitan area and are called the "twin cities".