text: how are state capitals chosen?   there's no set rule for picking a state capitol.  most capitols were set long ago, in a place central to a state.  this is because state representatives and officials had to ride, by horse and/or carriage, to the capital to conduct business.  i live in michigan.  lansing is out capital.  while detroit is our biggest and most popular city, it wouldn't be practicle for a representative to ride from, say, marquette.   (this is actually a poor example because detroit was the capital of michigan before lansing, but the point is the same.)