How were the capitols of states determined?

Question

How were the capitols of states determined?

Answer 1

The reasons why a particular city is the state capitol is unique to each state and is often based on historical reasons.  Possible reasons include:

a location selected by a colonial power, such as the English king or a British lord who established an economic venture in the New World (such as Annapolis, MD)

a seaport with a natural harbor from which ships could come and go easily, usually because there weren't roads at the time (such as Boston, MA)

a city that was the largest in the area (such as Oklahoma City, OK)

a location that was midway between two large and competing cities (such as Jefferson City, MO)

a city that was located in the populated areas because most of the state (at the time) was unpopulated (such as Juneau, AK)

a centrally-located place (such as Bismarck, ND)

a city that was already the capital when the Unites States acquired the territory from another country (such as Santa Fe, NM)

because of political ploys (such as Lincoln, NE)

and so on...  For why a particular city is the state capitol, you should research the history of that city and state.