Here are the capitals of the South Central states.
Key idea
The South Central capitals: Frankfort (Kentucky), Nashville (Tennessee), Montgomery (Alabama), Jackson (Mississippi), Little Rock (Arkansas), Baton Rouge (Louisiana), Oklahoma City (Oklahoma) and Austin (Texas).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | Frankfort | Louisville |
| Tennessee | Nashville | Memphis |
| Alabama | Montgomery | Birmingham |
| Mississippi | Jackson | Biloxi |
| Arkansas | Little Rock | Fayetteville |
| Louisiana | Baton Rouge | New Orleans |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma City | Tulsa |
| Texas | Austin | Houston |
Worked example: Texas's capital
What is the capital of Texas?
- Houston is the biggest city in Texas, and Dallas and San Antonio are big too.
- The capital is in central Texas, on the Colorado River of Texas.
- It is Austin.
Answer: Austin.
Common mistake
Students pick Houston for Texas or New Orleans for Louisiana; the capitals are Austin and Baton Rouge. Kentucky's capital is Frankfort, not Louisville or Lexington.
Memory help. Oklahoma City has the state's name in it. Little Rock sits near the middle of Arkansas, on the Arkansas River. Jackson, Mississippi, is not Jefferson City, Missouri. Baton Rouge means "red stick" in French.