Here are the capitals of the South Atlantic states.
Key idea
The South Atlantic capitals: Dover (Delaware), Annapolis (Maryland), Richmond (Virginia), Charleston (West Virginia), Raleigh (North Carolina), Columbia (South Carolina), Atlanta (Georgia) and Tallahassee (Florida).
Why it works
A capital is the city where a state's government meets: the governor works there and the legislature writes laws there. Many capitals were chosen long ago because they were near the middle of the state, easy for lawmakers to reach by horse or riverboat. The biggest cities often grew later, around ports and railroads. That is why the capital is so often not the biggest city.
| State | Capital | A well-known city that is not the capital |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Dover | Wilmington |
| Maryland | Annapolis | Baltimore |
| Virginia | Richmond | Virginia Beach |
| West Virginia | Charleston | Huntington |
| North Carolina | Raleigh | Charlotte |
| South Carolina | Columbia | Charleston |
| Georgia | Atlanta | Savannah |
| Florida | Tallahassee | Miami |
Worked example: Florida's capital
What is the capital of Florida?
- Miami, Orlando and Tampa are famous, and Jacksonville is the largest city.
- The capital is in the Panhandle, the strip along the north.
- It is Tallahassee.
Answer: Tallahassee.
Common mistake
Students pick Miami for Florida or Charlotte for North Carolina; the capitals are Tallahassee and Raleigh. Watch the two Charlestons: Charleston, West Virginia, is a capital, and Charleston, South Carolina, is a famous port city that is not.
Memory help. Raleigh and Richmond both start with R and sit next door: Richmond is Virginia's, Raleigh is North Carolina's. Annapolis, Maryland, is home to the U.S. Naval Academy.