Every country and every state has a special city where its government meets. That city is called the capital.
Key idea
A capital is the city where a country's or a state's government meets. The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. On maps, capitals are often shown with a star.
Why it works
People who make a country's laws need a place to meet and work together. The place for Washington, D.C., was chosen as the nation's capital in 1790. It is not part of any state.
Worked example: Is the biggest city the capital?
Houston is the biggest city in Texas. Is it the capital of Texas?
- Look for the star in Texas.
- The star is on Austin.
Answer: No. The capital of Texas is Austin.
Common mistake
Many children think the biggest city is always the capital. New York City is the biggest city in the United States (about 8.8 million people in the 2020 Census), but the capital is Washington, D.C. In California the capital is Sacramento, not Los Angeles.
For the grown-up. Learn your own state's capital together. If you can, visit the capitol building, where the state's lawmakers meet.