How Many Capitals Has the United States Had?

The United States has had nine different cities serve as its capital throughout its history. The first capital was New York City, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President in 1789. The capital then moved to Philadelphia in 1790, where it remained for a decade. In 1800, the capital was permanently moved to Washington, D.C., which has been the capital ever since. The other cities that briefly served as capitals include Baltimore, Lancaster, York, Princeton, Annapolis, Trenton, and New York City again. Each of these cities played a role in the early governance of the United States before the establishment of Washington, D.C. as the permanent capital.