6 U.S. Cities That Used To Be State Capitals

If you ever memorized all the state capitals during elementary school, then you already know that the capital is not always the state’s biggest or most well-known city. This is because state capitals need to tick off a lot of boxes to serve constituents best. When the U.S. was growing and expanding, some states’ original capital were moved due to strategic reasons involving location, infrastructure, or politics. Discover six U.S. cities that used to be the capitals of their state, and why they moved.

Detroit, Michigan

Before Lansing became the capital of Michigan in 1847, Detroit held the honor for 42 years. Founded in 1701 as a French trading post, Detroit was Michigan’s original capital city largely due to its size and location along a river. The latter meant it was an excellent hub for trading and a strategic spot for defense, making it a natural choice for the seat of government in a burgeoning territory. However, after Michigan officially became a state in 1837, officials felt a more centrally located capital was necessary. Since it was located in the middle of the state and had plenty of land to offer for development, Lansing was the ideal choice.

Newport, Rhode Island

For such a small state, Rhode Island has had its fair share of capital cities. In addition to Providence and Newport, the towns of Kingston, Bristol, and East Greenwich were capitals for Rhode Island’s rotating General Assembly from 1681 until 1854. Eventually, officials sought to establish a permanent capital, whittling down the number of choices to two, with Newport and Providence being the most logical options. Due to its location along the coast, Newport was a center for trade, making it integral in the rum and molasses imports that brought large profits to the region in the 18th century. The northern city of Providence, however, had stronger industrial ties and better infrastructure, making it the ideal choice for Rhode Island’s permanent capital in 1854.

Savannah, Georgia

When the coastal city of Savannah officially became a royal colony in 1754, it was the home of the royal governor, legislative assembly, and British court system. After Georgia officially became a state in 1776, it made sense to keep it as the seat of the new government — for a time. By the next century, all eyes were on an up-and-coming Georgian city called “Terminus.” Named for its location at the end of the railroad line, the city was a centralized railroad hub, with several lines all converging in the burgeoning city. By 1845, Terminus was renamed Atlanta, after the Atlantic Railroad, and within another 23 years, the centrally located city was named the official state capital.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Founded by the French in 1718, New Orleans quickly grew to be a cultural, economic, and political hub in the South. But as the city grew, state representatives became increasingly worried that politicians were too concentrated in New Orleans, and that their agendas were too focused on the capital city instead of the state as a whole. Although Baton Rouge was a considerably smaller city at the time, it became the site of the new state capital in 1846 after the city donated a large plot of land for the Capitol building — which became the country’s tallest Capitol building at 450 feet. Officials also deemed Baton Rouge a safer location to build the infrastructure a capital city required, compared with New Orleans’ hurricane-prone location along the Gulf of Mexico.

Williamsburg, Virginia

The historic city of Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia for 81 years, after taking the title from Jamestown in 1699. However, during the Revolutionary War, Thomas Jefferson and other early leaders of the nation decided that Williamsburg was no longer the right fit for Virginia’s state capital. The city’s proximity to the coast and the James River meant it was exposed, making it primely positioned for British attacks. The inland city of Richmond was seen as a much safer choice, in addition to being more accessible to all Virginians. The move to Richmond also allowed for more modernization in government, including a new state Capitol building that was designed by Jefferson himself.

San Francisco, California

Before Sacramento became the official capital of California in 1854, four other cities held the distinction: Monterey, San Jose, Vallejo, and Benicia. However, eight years after it became the capital, Sacramento suffered severe flooding and could not remain the seat of the government. During this time, San Francisco became the temporary capital of California, with operations being relocated to the Merchants Exchange Building. Eventually, the legislature moved back to Sacramento, which was chosen as the permanent capital for several reasons. For one, it was an economic hub due to the gold rush of the 1850s, and it had space for infrastructure. The city also donated its municipal courthouse to the state government, which was something the other California capital cities hadn’t been able to offer, and it has remained the state capital ever since.