How to Memorize the 50 States & Capitals

You can use mnemonic devices to remember tricky states and capitals.

You may not think it is necessary to know the capital cities of all 50 states, but having that information on hand could be useful in life -- when traveling, for example. Memorizing the 50 states and their capital cities may seem like an overwhelming task, but you can use some tricks and tips to learn them by heart.

Things You'll Need

• Index cards
• Paper and pen
• Blank US map

Instructions

1. Write down state names by geographic section. Writing things down helps you remember them, and organizing states in chunks by geographic region will prevent you from leaving any out. Try learning New England states together, then mid-Atlantic states, southeastern states, south-central states, north-central states, Rocky Mountain states and finally, Pacific states. You will be able to reference your geographic regions when you want to list states and their capitals from memory.

2. Fill out a blank map. Get a blank map from a teacher or online and make multiple copies. Keep filling out the map from memory until you get all of the states in their proper locations. If you know where the states go, you will be able to visualize a map when you want to remember them all. You can also add capital cities in their approximate geographic location.

3. Use flash cards. Take a blank index card and write the state name on one side and the state capital on the other side; do this for all 50 states. Quiz yourself by state and capital. Flash cards may not be the latest technology, but they are a cheap, easy way to memorize information.

4. Quiz yourself. You can use quiz software programs, such as Create A Quiz, or take free states-and-capitals quizzes online at websites such as Ilike2learn. You should test yourself regularly to keep your memory fresh.

5. Try a mnemonic device. A mnemonic device is a little trick you use to remember something difficult. You can create mnemonic devices and associations to remember the 50 states and their capitals. For example, cotton made the plantation owners in Virginia rich, which makes you think of Richmond, Virginia's capital.

6. Learn the 50 State Capitals Song (see Resources). Learning a song is a great way to memorize information because you can refer to the song in your head at any time. Take the time to learn the 50 State Capitals Song -- the fact that it rhymes makes it even easier to remember.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to keep in mind that many states have major cities that are more populated and better-known than the capital city -- for example Albany, not New York City, is the capital of New York. Create special methods to remember these tricky states.

References

• Mrs. Jones: Mnemonic Devices to Remember the United States and Capitals
• Mrs. Jones: Sing-A-Long: 50 State Capitals Song

Resources

• Ilike2learn: United States Capitals Map Quiz
• Computer Assisted Learning Software: Create A Quiz Software
• Mrs. Jones: Sing-A-Long: 50 State Capitals Song