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Could you imagine if the legislature in Nevada spent most of their time in Vegas? Carson City is probably a good bet.
Also when most capitals were chosen, they didn't know where the most important cities would be. Idaho City was the first capital of the state (when it was still a teritory), and at one point the biggest city in the North West, including Seattle and Portland.
Location: from houstoner to bostoner to new yorker to new jerseyite ;)
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I'd have to agree with theSUBlime and 18Montclair. While Sacramento and Austin may be major cities, they really aren't the main population or cultural centers of their respective states, not by a long shot.
Galveston, Houston, and a couple other locations served as the capital of the Republic of Texas briefly, but Sam Houston moved the capital to Austin in 1839.
Harrisburg (pop. 50,000) was chosen because of its central location. It has the highest murder rate in the state and doesn't represent it well for anything like Philly and the 'burgh do.
Do you feel the capitol of a state needs to be in the major or 2nd major city? Would it make much difference? I don't think this needs to be a thread of its own, but moderator correct me if I'm wrong.
Harrisburg (pop. 50,000) was chosen because of its central location. It has the highest murder rate in the state and doesn't represent it well for anything like Philly and the 'burgh do.
Funny thing about it is that Salem, OR has the highest murder rate in the state of Oregon. Coincidence?
I think it's far better when the capital is NOT the major city in a state. There will always be resentment and antagonism between the major city/cities and the rest of the state (over wealth, prestige, amenities, etc.). When you combine economic power with political power this resentment can get particularly nasty. I've lived in both types of states (Massachusetts and Minnesota with major-city capitals and Washington and New York with minor-city capitals) and it's better when people can gripe about two cities, like New York City and Albany, rather that one. Of course, this is a largely symbolic difference: the major city is likely to be the population center and thus have the greatest number of representatives in the legislature wherever it's located. Yet in politics, symbolism is very important. Politicians love to talk about farmers and hate to talk about cities (even if the majority of the population in most states live in urban or suburban areas).
Santa Fe is the capital of New Mexico. It is MUCH smaller than Albuquerque (largest city in the state by a long shot). However, Santa Fe is the capital because that is where the Spaniards first set up shop in this state way back when they first discovered this land. Before that, Pueblo Native Americans called Santa Fe home. Santa Fe has a population of about 72,000 and is one of the oldest cities/capitals in the United States.
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