# US States Capitals Superlatives: Help build a list **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 25, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179 "2006-04-25T18:08:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/81 "2006-04-28T13:08:10Z")
> [@PigBoy](#): > > Honolulu and Phoenix, I do believe. Son of a gun! I didn’t know about Phoenix. OK, there are THREE such capitals. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/82 "2006-04-28T15:09:31Z")
> [@Suburban Plankton](#): > > What is the official elevation of Honolulu? Or Juneau, Baltimore, or Providence, for that matter? > > And you left out Sacramento, which despite being located 90-odd miles inland, has an elevation of 25 feet. Generally, the elevation listed is that of the airport. In Juneau’s case, it’s 16 feet, even though the town sits on the water. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/83 "2006-04-28T15:43:38Z")
Which now-non-capital city was capital of its state for the shortest period of time? ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/84 "2006-04-28T17:14:00Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > Which now-non-capital city was capital of its state for the shortest period of time? Chillicothe was the capital of Ohio for three periods: 1803-1809, 1812-1816, and for one day, on the bicentennial of the state, March 1, 2003. (I was in Chillicothe on the last of those occasions.) I doubt if a city has been state capital for less than a day. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/85 "2006-04-28T18:50:28Z")
I guess I was thinking in total, as I hadn’t considered the possibility that a state would bounce around its capital like that. And the March 1, 2003 thing might have been “official” but hardly practical. So really, Chillicothe was the capital for around 9 years total. What city was capital from 1809-1812? That could be the winner. A close contender is Guthrie, Oklahoma. It was the first state capital from statehood in 1907 through 1911, about four years. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/86 "2006-04-28T20:32:51Z")
> [@Waterman](#): > > How about the cities with the most interstates - Metropolitan Chicago has 6 (55, 57, 80, 88, 90, and 94 ). Chicago’s not the capital of any state, though. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/87 "2006-04-28T20:42:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Albany, NY, has the only state capitol without a dome. You may need to change that to the only capitol without a cupola. There is no dome on the [Ohio capitol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ohio_Statehouse.jpg). There also no dome on Oregon’s as noted in **garygnu** ’s link, and the dome atop the capitol in Lincoln Nebraska is almost lost atop the early 20th century skscraper on which it sits. Lansing, MI is the capital closest to the greatest number of Great Lakes. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/88 "2006-04-28T20:47:33Z")
> [@](#): > > What city was [Ohio] capital from 1809-1812? Zanesville. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/89 "2006-04-28T23:17:19Z")
> [@Antonius Block](#): > > There are dozens of Interstates shorter than I-97, which is nearly [18 miles long](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_97). [Here](http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/long3di.html) is a list of the 17 shortest, each of which is less than 2 miles long. > > Wouldn’t you also have to add Victoria and Iqaluit to that list? The sources I found gave them as being higher in elevation. Maybe it’s just wherever the plaque is. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/90 "2006-04-28T23:35:10Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > You may need to change that to the only capitol without a cupola. There is no dome on the [Ohio capitol](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ohio_Statehouse.jpg). There also no dome on Oregon’s as noted in **garygnu** ’s link, and the dome atop the capitol in Lincoln Nebraska is almost lost atop the early 20th century skscraper on which it sits. > Lansing, MI is the capital closest to the greatest number of Great Lakes. There seems to be no dome on [North Dakota’s Capitol](http://www.dlmark.net//capnodak.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/91 "2006-04-29T02:23:15Z")
> [@Fern Forest](#): > > Honolulu has that one in the bag. The O should be pronounced oh… Which one? Both? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/92 "2006-04-29T03:32:54Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Zanesville. Which is also the one former Ohio capital with a Y-bridge! ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/93 "2006-04-29T03:55:50Z")
In terms of size (_area_ as opposed to population), I believe Oklahoma City might have the honor of being the “largest” capital city. I’m not 100% sure of this, but I believe Oklahoma City is _the_ largest city in the United States. (I think some sources claim America’s largest city is Jacksonville, Florida but since that is not a state capital, it seems Oklahoma City gets that #1 capital city honor). ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/94 "2006-04-29T04:43:51Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Which one? Both? Yes. And all other O’s in the Hawaiian language. ---
**Author:** ![av8rmike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@av8rmike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/av8rmike)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/95 "2006-04-29T17:31:17Z")
> [@Suburban Plankton](#): > > What is the official elevation of Honolulu? Or Juneau, Baltimore, or Providence, for that matter? As someone already mentioned, Baltimore isn’t the capital, Annapolis is. Maybe that city’s superlative is “least superlative”. Because depending on how strict you want to be, I-97 doesn’t pass through the city proper, it connects to another highway on the outskirts of town: [Map.](http://maps.google.com/?ll=39.006379,-76.552734&spn=0.111517,0.189857&om=1) ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/96 "2006-04-29T17:45:12Z")
> [@av8rmike](#): > > As someone already mentioned, Baltimore isn’t the capital, Annapolis is. err, yeah. I was just …testing you. Yeah, that’s it. hangs head in shame because, dammit, he \*\*knows \*\*all of the state capitals! ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/97 "2006-04-30T04:55:54Z")
And **Zeldar** mentioned in post #39 that Baltimore is often confused as a state capital. 🙂 Luckily we Dopers don’t get confused about that. Now that I think of it, wouldn’t the state capital with the largest population be New York, New York? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/98 "2006-04-30T05:20:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Now that I think of it, wouldn’t the state capital with the largest population be New York, New York? Only if they didn’t hide the capitol up in Albany. Yeah, yeah. Whoooosh. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/99 "2006-04-30T05:36:12Z")
Can Tallahassee be the capitol with the least number of people able to count? 😛 It’s pretty darn far from the geographic center of the state too. It’s also completely out of touch from the rest of the state. Has the state government as well as FSU there so I think the number of non-government jobs has to max out at around 3. It’s also pretty darn close to Georgia/Alabama. The capitol of New York is not New York City, it’s Albany, FWIW And OMG, Madison sounds like such a cool place! Who knew things could be that nifty in Wisconsin. Can Montana get an award for the least mentioned capitol? Helena? Des Moines should get an award for having all inhabitants mention it’s name in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179/100 "2006-04-30T06:29:44Z")
Yes as **tomndebb** correctly surmised it was a whoosh. (Hence the smart aleck big grin). Perhaps we should have a whoosh smilie? Anyway, sorry for the whoosh **Auntbeast**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-states-capitals-superlatives-help-build-a-list/354179.md?page=6)