Les États du Sud

I've visited four of the five cities below, with Donaldsonville the sole exception. I've also been to Zanesville, OH, which would fit the list if it were considered Southern. (Despite what my lovely wife sometimes believes, the Mason-Dixon line does not run along the border between Michigan and Ohio.)

Please enjoy today's mentalfloss.com Brain Game Tuesday Test Time challenge:

Besides being Southern U.S. cities whose names end with the suffix -ville, what specific trait do these have in common? HINT: It has nothing to do with the Civil War. HUNTSVILLE, AL MILLEDGEVILLE, GA DONALDSONVILLE, LA FAYETTEVILLE, NC KNOXVILLE, TN

Here is the ANSWER.

QUESTION:

Besides being Southern cities whose names end with the suffix -ville, what do these five have in common?  Huntsville, AL; Milledgeville, GA; Donaldsonville, LA; Fayetteville, NC; Knoxville, TN

ANSWER:

Each was formerly the capital city of its state.

Thanks for playing! Tomorrow, it's Wordplay Wednesday.