# Why is Ankara the capital of Turkey, not Istanbul? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 20, 2012, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239 "2012-09-20T04:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/21 "2013-06-19T22:46:18Z")
Abuja, Nigeria is another city built to be a national capital. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/22 "2013-06-20T00:42:55Z")
Albany, thank God. Imagine if NYC was also the center of national government. It wouldn’t be Paris. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/23 "2013-06-20T02:41:04Z")
Ottawa became the capital of Canada precisely because it wasn’t Toronto or Montreal. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/24 "2013-06-20T02:49:57Z")
It’s not unusual to have the capital removed from distractions. It happens a lot with US states. Such as Carson City being the capital of Nevada and not Las Vegas. Sacramento for California, Jefferson City for Missouri etc. ---
**Author:** ![Claire98909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@Claire98909](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire98909)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/25 "2013-06-20T02:51:11Z")
The same can be asked about why New York City is not the capital of New York, Chicago is not the capital of Illinois, Baltimore is not the capital of Maryland, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/26 "2013-06-20T03:22:29Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > It’s not unusual to have the capital removed from distractions. It happens a lot with US states. Such as Carson City being the capital of Nevada and not Las Vegas. Sacramento for California, Jefferson City for Missouri etc. Carson City wasn’t removed from the distractions when it _became_ the capital, though. There was no Las Vegas, and Reno is only 25 miles away. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/27 "2013-06-20T04:27:41Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > Carson City wasn’t removed from the distractions when it _became_ the capital, though. There was no Las Vegas, and Reno is only 25 miles away. True, but there’s been no rush to move it to Vegas. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/28 "2013-06-20T19:50:46Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > And at the time, Washington DC. Actually, by moving the capital to the new Washington City from its previous sites, Philadelphia and New York City, it _was_ slightly more centrally located, when you consider the southern states. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/29 "2013-06-20T19:55:06Z")
But the main reason was to put it in slave territory - the Southern pols got very tired of being harangued by abolitionist Quakers in Philly, and were afraid their household slaves would get ideas from associating with free blacks during the time they were allowed to be there before automatically becoming free themselves. Jefferson and Madison made a deal in which the capital would be moved in return for establishing the Bank of the United States. The distance from Philly to DC isn’t much, and making a more-central location for the capital was never the purpose. ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/30 "2013-06-20T21:48:17Z")
> [@Claire98909](#): > > The same can be asked about why New York City is not the capital of New York, Chicago is not the capital of Illinois, Baltimore is not the capital of Maryland, etc. I think the capital city of a state should be centrally located in the state so state senators and congressmen can more easily gather. Hence, Springfield is the capital of Il., Columbia the capital of SC (not Charleston), and Albany of NY. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/31 "2013-06-21T04:59:57Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > I think the capital city of a state should be centrally located in the state so state senators and congressmen can more easily gather. Hence, Springfield is the capital of Il., Columbia the capital of SC (not Charleston), and Albany of NY. For ease of gathering, shouldn’t it be in the center of population since state legislative districts are now all apportioned by population? Springfield is a [lot farther away](http://herald-review.com/news/local/illinois-population-center-continues-northward-march/article_05a02ffe-73b8-11e0-af74-001cc4c03286.html) from the average Illinoisan than Chicago is (but, like with Carson City, that wasn’t true a long time ago). ---
**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/32 "2013-06-21T07:55:48Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > For ease of gathering, shouldn’t it be in the center of population since state legislative districts are now all apportioned by population? Springfield is a [lot farther away](http://herald-review.com/news/local/illinois-population-center-continues-northward-march/article_05a02ffe-73b8-11e0-af74-001cc4c03286.html) from the average Illinoisan than Chicago is (but, like with Carson City, that wasn’t true a long time ago). As you note by your link, when Illinois became a state in 1818 (at which time Springfield was established as its capital), the center of population was even south of Springfield. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/33 "2013-06-21T08:31:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > But the main reason was to put it in slave territory - the Southern pols got very tired of being harangued by abolitionist Quakers in Philly, and were afraid their household slaves would get ideas from associating with free blacks during the time they were allowed to be there before automatically becoming free themselves. Jefferson and Madison made a deal in which the capital would be moved in return for establishing the Bank of the United States. The distance from Philly to DC isn’t much, and making a more-central location for the capital was never the purpose. Then why not just put it in a pre-existing Southern city? ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/34 "2013-06-21T12:22:07Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Ottawa became the capital of Canada precisely because it wasn’t Toronto or Montreal. And to this day, it is controlled by the Ottawamans. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/35 "2013-06-21T12:29:53Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Then why not just put it in a pre-existing Southern city? The Northern states would not abide this. As it was, Hamiltons deal with the southerners was aided by the fact that Philly was in the grip of plague at the time and George Washington was really pushing for the Potomac River location. His personal standing and reputation carried a lot of weight. Here’s a good book on it: [Washington: The Making of the American Capital by Fergus M Bordevich 2008](http://www.amazon.com/Washington-The-Making-American-Capital/dp/0060842393) ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/36 "2013-06-21T12:31:55Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > The Northern states would not abide this. Why not? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/37 "2013-06-21T13:01:44Z")
> [@barbitu8](#): > > As you note by your link, when Illinois became a state in 1818 (at which time Springfield was established as its capital), the center of population was even south of Springfield. And later when the population distribution changes, it becomes a matter of not wanting the Legislature to be where all the business and money is located. The capital staying a “small town” dedicated to the business of politics is seen as a virtue. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/38 "2013-06-21T14:58:28Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Why not? They did not want The Capital to be dominated by Southern interests. They wanted it dominated by their own interests. For the same reason, many states did not want NYC as the capital either. It should be noted that DC as a planned community was a flop. Congress did not want to fund it, as many states were still trying to dig their way out from under the debt from the revolution. So the idea was to plat out lots, sell them, and use that money to build the city. Sales were so lackluster that even during the Civil War, DC was known as The City of Monumental Distances because of all the huge undeveloped areas between government buildings. All in all, I think it worked out best choosing a place that was mutually unacceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/39 "2013-06-21T15:09:50Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > … > > All in all, I think it worked out best choosing a place that was mutually unacceptable. For the benefit of many non-US people,\* an old line has it that Washington D.C. combines Northern hospitality with Southern weather. I’m a “US person,” which I’ve just learned, according to the National Security legal system. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2013, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239/40 "2013-06-21T15:14:40Z")
… also that it combines Southern efficiency with Northern charm. I’ve heard that about St. Louis, too, btw. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ankara-the-capital-of-turkey-not-istanbul/635239.md?page=3)