Can you name all 50 state capitals before the clock runs out? This name all 50 state capitals challenge gives you ten minutes to type every capital city, from Montgomery to Cheyenne. You do not need to match each one to its state as you go; just get them all down. Expect the famous cities to come quickly and the small-town capitals out West and in the Plains to make you sweat.
Many state capitals are not the biggest city in their state, which is exactly what makes this list tricky. New York's capital is Albany, not New York City; Illinois chose Springfield over Chicago; and California runs from Sacramento rather than Los Angeles. Only about 17 capitals are also their state's largest city, among them Boston, Atlanta, Phoenix, Denver and Honolulu. The smallest by population is Montpelier, Vermont, with fewer than 9,000 residents.
Go state by state in alphabetical order or sweep the map region by region, and say each state to yourself before you reach for its capital. Watch for names that repeat elsewhere: Columbia, Charleston, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison and Springfield are all common city names, so it is easy to second-guess them. Capitals named after presidents are a useful cluster to remember: Jackson, Jefferson City, Lincoln and Madison.