The Major U.S. City Quiz

By: Annette
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Major U.S. City Quiz
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!" The United States is known for A LOT of things. Often considered the biggest world power, it has also been named the "land of the free" and a "melting pot." While the former names are markers of American history, the latter is given for the diverse people and cultures you'll see pop up in major American cities. From Los Angeles to Miami, can you correctly match the major U.S. city to its state?

Before becoming one of the world's greatest powers, the United States had humble beginnings. Prior to its independence from Great Britain, the country started off as thirteen colonies. After seeking independence from Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War, the United States began forming in 1787 with the ratification of the Constitution by Delaware. This country that started as 13 colonies would later grow to become 50 states in what is now the third largest country in the world. Within these states, you'd find some of the major cities in the country and even around the world. Could you match them to its state?

New York City and Los Angeles might be easy but what about Houston and Atlanta? Could you pinpoint Memphis and Denver? There's only one way to find out! Test your U.S. knowledge by pairing its major cities to their states. Let's get started!

In which state is New York City located?
New York
California
New Jersey
Florida
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

New York City has the highest population of any city in the United States, with over four million more people than the next closest city.

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In which state is Atlanta located?
Illinois
Georgia
California
Tennessee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Atlanta has the 39th highest population in the U.S. as of the 2010 census. It's the home of Coca-Cola and Holiday Inn.

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In which state is Houston located?
Texas
Arizona
Florida
California
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Houston boasts the fourth-highest population in the U.S. It is the most populated city in the southern United States.

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In which state is San Diego located?
Nevada
California
New Mexico
Washington
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

San Diego is one of three California cities in the top 10 in U.S. population. The city produces more avocados than any place else in the country.

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In which state is Dallas located?
Georgia
Illinois
Texas
Florida
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dallas comes in at number nine in population among U.S. cities. Between World War II and 1970, Dallas' population nearly tripled.

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In which state is Boston located?
Massachusetts
New York
Pennsylvania
Connecticut
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Boston was actually named after a town in England. It is also home to the nation's oldest public park.

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In which state is Miami located?
California
Florida
New York
North Carolina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Miami is nicknamed The Magic City. The name comes from its rapid growth in population.

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In which state is San Jose located?
California
Texas
New York
Nevada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

San Jose just barely makes the top 10 in U.S. city population. It is illegal for grocery stores to use plastic bags in San Jose.

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In which state is Los Angeles located?
Florida
New York
California
Massachusetts
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nicknamed the City of Angels, Los Angeles is number two in population among U.S. cities.

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In which state is Nashville located?
Louisiana
Tennessee
South Carolina
Mississippi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nashville ranks number 25 in population. A native of Nashville, William Walker became president of Nicaragua in 1856, the last American to be president of a foreign country.

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In which state is Jacksonville located?
Florida
Louisiana
North Carolina
Alabama
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jacksonville's population ranks it number twelve among U.S. cities. It is the largest in area in the continental U.S. Four other U.S. cities are larger in area, all of which are in Alaska.

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In which state is Chicago located?
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Michigan
Illinois
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nicknamed The Windy City, Chicago is the third-highest populated city in the U.S. It was also home to former U.S. president, Barack Obama.

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In which state is Indianapolis located?
Alabama
Minnesota
Indiana
South Carolina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Indianapolis has the 14th-highest population in the U.S. It is also the largest U.S. city not located on a major body of water.

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In which state is Phoenix located?
Nevada
New Mexico
California
Arizona
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Phoenix has the sixth-highest population in the U.S. Arizona leads the nation in copper production.

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In which state is Columbus located?
Ohio
California
Iowa
Virginia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are many U.S. cities with the name Columbus, but the one in Ohio has the largest population of those that share its name.

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In which state is Fort Worth located?
Michigan
Texas
Illinois
Indiana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fort Worth comes in at number 16 in population among U.S. cities. A tribute memorial to former U.S. president John F. Kennedy is located there.

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In which state is Charlotte located?
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia
Louisiana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Charlotte has the 17th-highest population in the U.S. The North Carolina city used to be king in gold production, until the California Gold Rush of 1848.

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In which state is Detroit located?
Minnesota
Michigan
Wisconsin
Ohio
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Detroit ranks number 18 in population among U.S. cities. Woodward Avenue, located in Detroit, is the first paved highway anywhere in the world.

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In which state is El Paso located?
New Mexico
Nevada
Arizona
Texas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At number 19, El Paso is the last of six Texas cities in the top 20 of U.S. cities in population. It is also said to be the birthplace of margaritas.

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In which state is Oklahoma City located?
Georgia
Arkansas
Wyoming
Oklahoma
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oklahoma City is about the same distance from New York and Los Angeles. It ranks number 27 in population.

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In which state is Seattle located?
Washington
Oregon
California
Montana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seattle comes in at number 20 among U.S. cities in population. Starbucks was founded in Pike Place Market in Seattle.

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In which state is Denver located?
Montana
Colorado
North Dakota
Wyoming
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Denver comes in at number 21 among U.S. cities in population. Water boils at a lower temperature - 202 degrees F - in Denver, due to lower air pressure at high altitude.

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In which state is Austin located?
Michigan
Minnesota
Texas
Florida
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Austin falls just short of the top 10 of U.S. cities in population. The city's population actually grew during The Great Depression.

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In which state is Memphis located?
Georgia
Alabama
Tennessee
Mississippi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Memphis has the 23rd-highest population among U.S. cities. Elvis Presley once called Memphis home.

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In which state is Tucson located?
Arizona
New Mexico
Nevada
California
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 350 days of sunshine annually, Tucson has more than any other city in the U.S.

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In which state is Philadelphia located?
Delaware
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Pennsylvania
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Philadelphia owns the ranking of number 5 among U.S. cities in population. It was also home to the nation's first hospital, which was co-founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1751.

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In which state is Baltimore located?
Massachusetts
Virginia
Ohio
Maryland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Baltimore ranks number 26 in population among U.S. cities. It is also home to the world's first dental school.

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In which state is Portland located?
California
Oregon
Washington
Utah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Portland's name was chosen via coin flip in 1845. Had it gone the other way, Portland would have been named Boston.

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In which state is Las Vegas located?
Nevada
New Mexico
Arizona
California
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Las Vegas is nicknamed Sin City. There are an estimated 1,000 people living underground in Las Vegas.

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In which state is Louisville located?
Kentucky
Arkansas
Missouri
Tennessee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A now closed Louisville restaurant claims to be the inventor of the cheeseburger. It is also the birthplace of the "Happy Birthday to You" song.

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In which state is San Francisco located?
Washington
Oregon
Nevada
California
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

San Francisco is number 13 in population among U.S. cities. It was part of Mexico until the Mexican-American War in 1848.

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In which state is Milwaukee located?
Michigan
Wisconsin
Ohio
Minnesota
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin. It is nicknamed Cream City for its cream-colored brick buildings.

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In which state is Albuquerque located?
Arizona
Nevada
New Mexico
California
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Founded in 1706, Albuquerque has an elevation of 5,312 feet. It the highest metropolitan city in America.

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In which state is San Antonio located?
Arizona
Texas
Florida
Ohio
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

San Antonio is one of three Texas cities in the top 10 in population. It is home to The Alamo.

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In which state is Minneapolis located?
Indiana
Minnesota
Illinois
Michigan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Minneapolis is Minnesota's biggest city. However it is St. Paul, not Minneapolis, that is the capital of the state. Together, the two are known as the Twin Cities.

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You Got:
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