Fluency U5L5

Each state in the United States has a capital. This

is the center of the state government where elected

officials do their work. There is something interesting

about each state’s capital. Here are some facts about

just a few of the capitals.

The oldest capital is Santa Fe, New Mexico. Spanish

explorers made it the capital of the area in 1610. Before

that, Native American tribes lived in the area. To put the

age of this city in perspective, it was a capital before

the Pilgrims landed in what is now Massachusetts.

At the same time that Santa Fe was being settled, the

explorer Captain John Smith visited the Native American

tribes who were living in the area that one day would

become Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania. The

town itself wasn’t founded until 1785 when the town

was established. The town is named after the Harris

family, which owned the land.

The capital of Illinois is Springfield, a city in the middle

of the state. Like many capitals, it is not the biggest

city. That honor goes to Chicago. But Springfield has

not been the capital for the state’s entire history. It has

been changed several times over the years.

Montpelier is the capital of Vermont. The name of

this city is unusual because it sounds so French. That

happened because Vermont became a state in 1791.

At that time, people in our newly formed country were

very grateful to the French for helping us in the War

for Independence. The people of Vermont showed their

appreciation by giving their capital a French name.