American Capitals
A national capital or, in general, a capital (of Latin “caput,” “capitis,” which means “head”) is the city or locality where the central government, and all the main supreme organs of the State, reside. Capitals in America are generally recognized as a city which physically encompasses the offices and meeting places of the seat of government of the State, or which is fixed by law or by the constitution. Depending on each country or jurisdiction, capitals may exist at different levels or hierarchies. For historical capitals in general, see here.
American Countries and Capitals List since 1800
United States of America
- COW Number: 2 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: US/U.S./United States; USA/U.S.A.
- Capital(s) since 1800: Washington D.C.
- Name of United States of America in Spanish: Estados Unidos de America
Canada
- COW Number: 20 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: British possessions: British North America. French possessions: New France
- Capital(s) since 1800: Ottawa (Kingston 1841-1843, Montreal 1843-1849, Toronto 1849-1859, Quebec City 1859-1865)
- Name of Canada in Spanish: Canadá
Bahamas
- COW Number: 31 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Bahama Islands; Lucayos
- Capital(s) since 1800: Nassau
- Name of Bahamas in Spanish: Bahamas
Cuba
- COW Number: 40 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: (None)
- Capital(s) since 1800: Havana
- Name of Cuba in Spanish: Cuba
Haiti
- COW Number: 41 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Ayiti (native); Hayti; Saint-Domingue
- Capital(s) since 1800: Port-au-Prince
- Name of Haiti in Spanish: Haití
Dominican Republic
- COW Number: 42 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Republica Dominicana; Saint Domingo; San Domingo; Santo Domingo
- Capital(s) since 1800: Santo Domingo (renamed as Ciudad Trujillo from 1930-1967 until Trujillo’s death)
- Name of Dominican Republic in Spanish: República Dominicana
Jamaica
- COW Number: 51 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: St. Jago; Santiago; Xaymaca
- Capital(s) since 1800: Kingston (Santiago de la Vega in colonial times)
- Name of Jamaica in Spanish: Jamaica
Trinidad & Tobago
- COW Number: 52 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Trinidad: Bella Forma; Trinity. Tobago: Tapuago (native)
- Capital(s) since 1800: Port-of-Spain
- Name of Trinidad & Tobago in Spanish: Trinidad y Tobago
Barbados
- COW Number: 53 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Barbadoes
- Capital(s) since 1800: Bridgetown
- Name of Barbados in Spanish: Barbados
Dominica
- COW Number: 54 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Isla Dominga
- Capital(s) since 1800: Roseau
- Name of Dominica in Spanish: Dominica
Grenada
- COW Number: 55 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Concepcion; Granada; La Grenade
- Capital(s) since 1800: St. George’s
- Name of Grenada in Spanish: Granada
Saint Lucia
- COW Number: 56 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Hewanorra (native); Sainte Lucie; Santa Lucia
- Capital(s) since 1800: Castries
- Name of Saint Lucia in Spanish: Santa Lucía
Saint Vincent & Grenadines
- COW Number: 57 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: St. Vincent: Hairoun (native); Grenadines: Grenadilles
- Capital(s) since 1800: Kingstown
- Name of Saint Vincent & Grenadines in Spanish: San Vicente y las Granadinas
Antigua & Barbuda
- COW Number: 58 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Santa Maria de Antigua
- Capital(s) since 1800: St. John’s
- Name of Antigua & Barbuda in Spanish: Antigua y Barbuda
Saint Kitts & Nevis
- COW Number: 60 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: St. Kitts-Nevis; St. Kitts: Liamuiga (native); St. Christopher; San Cristobal
- Capital(s) since 1800: Basseterre
- Name of Saint Kitts & Nevis in Spanish: San Cristóbal y Nieves
Mexico
- COW Number: 70 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Estados Unidos Mexicanos; Mejico; Mexican Empire; Mexican Republic; United Mexican States
- Capital(s) since 1800: Mexico City
- Name of Mexico in Spanish: Méjico
Belize
- COW Number: 80 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Balize; Belice; British Bay Settlement; British Honduras
- Capital(s) since 1800: Belmopan (Belize City until 1970)
- Name of Belize in Spanish: Belice
Guatemala
- COW Number: 90 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: (none)
- Capital(s) since 1800: Guatemala City
- Name of Guatemala in Spanish: Guatemala
Honduras
- COW Number: 91 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: (none)
- Capital(s) since 1800: Tegucigalpa
- Name of Honduras in Spanish: Honduras
El Salvador
- COW Number: 92 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Saint Salvador; Salvador; San Salvador
- Capital(s) since 1800: San Salvador
- Name of El Salvador in Spanish: El Salvador
Nicaragua
- COW Number: 93 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Nicarahua
- Capital(s) since 1800: Managua
- Name of Nicaragua in Spanish: Nicaragua
Costa Rica
- COW Number: 94 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Rich Coast
- Capital(s) since 1800: San Jose
- Name of Costa Rica in Spanish: Costa Rica
Panama
- COW Number: 95 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Castilla de Oro/Castilla del Oro; State of the Isthmus
- Capital(s) since 1800: Panama City
- Name of Panama in Spanish: Panamá
Colombia
- COW Number: 100 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Columbia; Gran Colombia; Granadine Confederation; Great Colombia; Greater Colombia; Grenadine Confedaration; New Granada; Nueva Granada
- Capital(s) since 1800: Bogota
- Name of Colombia in Spanish: Colombia
Venezuela
- COW Number: 101 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Capital(s) since 1800: Caracas
- Name of Venezuela in Spanish: Venezuela
Guyana
- COW Number: 110 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: British Guiana; Guayana. Included Berbice, Demerara, Essequibo
- Capital(s) since 1800: Georgetown
- Name of Guyana in Spanish: Guayana
Suriname
- COW Number: 115 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Dutch Guiana; Netherlands Guiana; Surinam; Willoughbyland
- Capital(s) since 1800: Paramaribo
- Name of Suriname in Spanish: Surinam
Ecuador
- COW Number: 130 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Estado del Ecuator; State of the Equator
- Capital(s) since 1800: Quito
- Name of Ecuador in Spanish: Ecuador
Peru
- COW Number: 135 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Perou; Peruvian Republic. Part of Peru-Bolivia Confederation 1839-1839
- Capital(s) since 1800: Lima
- Name of Peru in Spanish: Perú
Brazil
- COW Number: 140 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Brasil
- Capital(s) since 1800: Brasilia (Rio de Janeiro until 1960)
- Name of Brazil in Spanish: Brasil
Bolivia
- COW Number: 145 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Charcas; Upper Peru. Part of Peru-Bolivia Confederation (1836-1839)
- Capital(s) since 1800: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)
- Name of Bolivia in Spanish: Bolivia
Paraguay
- COW Number: 150 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Guaira; Paraguai
- Capital(s) since 1800: Asuncion
- Name of Paraguay in Spanish: Paraguay
Chile
- COW Number: 155 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Chili, Chilli
- Capital(s) since 1800: Santiago (official), Valparaiso (legislative)
- Name of Chile in Spanish: Chile
Argentina
- COW Number: 160 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Argentine Confederation; Argentine Nation; Argentine Republic; Platine Republic; United Provinces of La Plata; United Provinces of Rio de la Plata; United Provinces of South America
- Capital(s) since 1800: Buenos Aires
- Name of Argentina in Spanish: Argentina
Uruguay
- COW Number: 165 (see the “Correlates of War” Project)
- Historical Country Alternative Spellings / Names / Related Entities: Banda Oriental; Estado Oriental del Uruguay; Province of Montevideo; Provincia Oriental del Rio de la Plata; República Oriental del Uruguay
- Capital(s) since 1800: Montevideo
- Name of Uruguay in Spanish: Uruguay
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