Flags of the U.S. states

Map showing the U.S. state flags

The flags of the U.S. states exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles.

History

Modern U.S. state flags date from the 1890s, when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 and World War I.[1]

According to a 2001 survey by the North American Vexillological Association, New Mexico has the best-designed flag of any U.S. state, U.S. territory, or Canadian province, while Georgia's state flag was rated the worst design.[2] (Georgia adopted a new flag in 2003; Nebraska's state flag, whose design was rated second worst, remains in use to date.) About half the flags have a common "seal on a bed sheet" design, wherein the state seal is simply put on a solid, usually blue, background. Such flags consistently get the lowest ranks from the Vexillological Association.

Current state flags

Dates in parentheses denote when the flag was adopted by the state's legislature.

[3][N 1]

Flag of Alabama
(February 16, 1895)[4]
Flag of Alaska
(July 6, 1927)
Flag of Arizona
(January 25, 1917)
Flag of Arkansas
(March 16, 1924)
Flag of California
(February 3, 1911)
Flag of Colorado
(March 31, 1964)
Flag of Connecticut
(September 9, 1897)
Flag of Delaware
(July 24, 1913)
Flag of Florida
( May 21, 1985)
Flag of Georgia
(February 19, 2003)
Flag of Hawaii
(December 29, 1845)
Flag of Idaho
(November 2, 1957)
Flag of Illinois
(June 27, 1969)
Flag of Indiana
(May 31, 1917)
Flag of Iowa
(March 12, 1921)
Flag of Kansas
(September 22, 1961)
Flag of Kentucky
(March 26, 1918)
Flag of Louisiana
(November 22, 2010)[5]
Flag of Maine
(June 16, 1909)
Flag of Maryland
(November 25, 1904)
Flag of Massachusetts
(March 21, 1971)
Flag of Michigan
(June 26, 1911)
Flag of Minnesota
(August 2, 1983)
Flag of Mississippi
(April 23, 1894 and February 7, 2001 see notes)[3]
Flag of Missouri
(September 4, 1913)
Flag of Montana
(December 17, 1981)
Flag of Nebraska
(July 16, 1963)
Flag of Nevada
(July 25, 1991)
Flag of New Hampshire
(November 30, 1931)
Flag of New Jersey
(January 15, 1896)
Flag of New Mexico
(September 18, 1920)
Flag of New York
(April 1, 1901)
Flag of North Carolina
(June 24, 1991)[7]
Flag of North Dakota
(November 9, 1943)
Flag of Ohio
(May 9, 1902)
Flag of Oklahoma
(November 1, 2006)[8][9]
Flag of Oregon (obverse)
(April 15, 1925)[11]
Flag of Oregon (reverse)
Flag of Pennsylvania
(April 24, 1907)
Flag of Rhode Island
(July 27, 1640, formally November 1, 1897)
Flag of South Carolina
(September 28, 1861)
Flag of South Dakota
(November 9, 1992)
Flag of Tennessee
(February 3, 1905)
Flag of Texas
(August 31, 1933)
Flag of Utah
(February 16, 2011)[16][17][18][19]
Flag of Vermont
(April 17, 1923)
Flag of Virginia
(February 1, 1950)[20]
Flag of Washington[22]
(August 25, 1923)
Flag of West Virginia
(November 6, 1929)
Flag of Wisconsin
(May 1, 1981)[23]
Flag of Wyoming
(March 4, 1917)

Current state ensigns

Maine and Massachusetts have ensigns differing from the state flag for use at sea.

Naval and Maritime Flag of Massachusetts
(1971)
Merchant and Marine Flag of Maine
(1939)

Historical state flags

Former state flags

Flag of Arkansas
(February 26, 1913 – 1923)
Flag of Arkansas
(1923 – 1924)
Flag of Florida
(September 1868 – November 1900)[24]
Flag of Florida
(November 1900 – May 1985)[24]
Flag of Georgia
(unofficial, pre-1879)
Flag of Georgia
(1879–1902)
Flag of Georgia
(1902–1906)
Flag of Georgia
(1906–1920)
Flag of Georgia
(1920–1956)
Flag of Georgia
(1956–2001)
Flag of Georgia
(2001–2003)
Flag of Illinois
(1915-1969)
Flag of Louisiana
(January 1861, unofficial)
Flag of Louisiana
(February 1861 – 1912)[26]
Flag of Massachusetts
(pre-1971, reverse)
Flag of Maine
(1901 – June 16, 1909)
Flag of Minnesota
(February 28, 1893 – August 1957)
Flag of Minnesota
(August 1957 – August 1983)
Flag of Mississippi
(1861–1894)
Flag of Mississippi
(1894–1996)
Flag of Mississippi
(1996–2001)
Flag of New Mexico
(1912–1925)
Flag of New York
(1788 – April 2, 1901)
Flag of Nevada
(July 20, 1905 – 1929)
Flag of North Carolina
(March 1885 – June 24, 1991)
Flag of Oklahoma
(1911–1925)
Flag of Oklahoma
(1925–1941)
Flag of Oklahoma
(1941–1988)
Flag of Oklahoma
(1988–2006)
Flag of Rhode Island
(1882–1897)
Flag of South Carolina
(1775–1861)
Flag of South Dakota
(1909–1963)
Flag of South Dakota
(1963–1992)
Flag of Utah
(March 1903 – 1913)
Flag of Utah
(1913 – February 16, 2011)
Flag of the Vermont Republic and State
(June 1, 1770 – June 13, 1804)
Flag of Vermont
(June 14, 1804 – April 3, 1837)
Flag of Vermont
(April 6, 1837 – April 16, 1923)
Flag of Virginia
(1861–1950)
Flag of West Virginia
(1905–1907)
Flag of West Virginia
(1907–1929)
Flag of Wisconsin
(1913–1981)

American Civil War

Flag of Alabama
(November 7, 1861 – November 12, 1865, obverse)[4]
Flag of Alabama
(November 7, 1861 – November 12, 1865, reverse)[4]
Flag of Florida
(September 27, 1861, unofficial)
Flag of Mississippi
(April 15, 1861 – April 22, 1865)
Flag of North Carolina
(March 16, 1861 – March 1, 1885)

Texas Revolution

Flag of the Republic of Texas (June 10, 1836 – June 29, 1839)
Come and Take It flag
Texas Lone Star and Stripes
The Dodson Flag
The Alamo Flag
The Ensign of the First Texas Navy (1836 – 1838)

Other

Flag of West Florida
(August 10, 1810)
Flag of the California Republic
(April 10, 1846)
California Lone Star Flag
(April 14, 1836)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ The Mississippi flag was first adopted in April 1894. However, it was repealed in 1906, remaining in de facto usage until its official re-adoption in April 2001.

References

  1. ↑ Artimovich, Nick. "Questions & Answers". North American Vexillological Association. p. 8. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
  2. ↑ Kaye, Ted (2001-06-10). "NEW MEXICO TOPS STATE/PROVINCIAL FLAGS SURVEY, GEORGIA LOSES BY WIDE MARGIN". North American Vexillological Association. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
  3. 1 2 3 State of Mississippi (February 7, 2001). "Miss. Code Ann. § 3-3-16: Design of state flag". Mississippi Code of 1972. LexisNexis. HISTORY: SOURCES: Laws, 2001, ch. 301, § 2, eff from and after February 7, 2001 (the date the United States Attorney General interposed no objection under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, to the addition of this section.)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
  5. 1 2 Anderson, Ed (November 22, 2010). "New Louisiana state flag with bleeding pelican is unfurled". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library (State of North Carolina). Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  7. ↑ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library (State of North Carolina). Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  8. 1 2 "The Oklahoma State Flag". NetState. NState, LLC. February 6, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2015. Colors shall be colorfast and shall not bleed one into another. Added by Laws 1925, c. 234, p. 340, § 1. Amended by Laws 1941, p. 90, § 1; Laws 2006, c. 181, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006.
  9. 1 2 "Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1359". Oklahoma State Courts Network. May 23, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2015. This act shall become effective November 1, 2006.
  10. ↑ Text states that Oregon adopted its flag in 1925
  11. ↑ Text states that Oregon adopted its flag in 1925
  12. ↑ Dan Bammes (2011-02-17). "Legislature: Fixing the Flag". KUER-FM. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  13. ↑ "Utah State Flag Concurrent Resolution, 2011 General Session, State of Utah". Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  14. ↑ Keith McCord (12 February 2011). "Resolution aims to correct state flag goof". KSL-TV. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  15. ↑ Dennis Romboy (9 March 2011). "Utahns celebrate first State Flag Day". KSL-TV. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Dan Bammes (2011-02-17). "Legislature: Fixing the Flag". KUER-FM. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
  17. ↑ "Utah State Flag Concurrent Resolution, 2011 General Session, State of Utah". Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  18. ↑ Keith McCord (12 February 2011). "Resolution aims to correct state flag goof". KSL-TV. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  19. ↑ Dennis Romboy (9 March 2011). "Utahns celebrate first State Flag Day". KSL-TV. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  20. 1 2 Commonwealth of Virginia (February 1, 1950). "§ 1-506. Flag of the Commonwealth.". Code of Virginia. Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved January 28, 2015. The flag of the Commonwealth shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there may be a white fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of the Commonwealth. (Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-32; 2005, c. 839.)
  21. ↑ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  22. ↑ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
  23. 1 2 State of Wisconsin. "286". Section: 1.08: State flag. Laws of 1979. Retrieved August 21, 2015. The department of administration shall ensure that all official state flags that are manufactured on or after May 1, 1981 conform to the requirements of this section. State flags manufactured before May 1, 1981 may continue to be used as state flags.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Florida Constitution Revision Commission (August 4, 2005). "Amendments, Election of 11-6-1900". The Florida State University. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  25. ↑ While this flag was officially adopted by Louisiana in 1861 there is no indication that it actually flew over state buildings up to 1912. In that year (1912) the blue pelican flag was officially adopted after nearly 100 years of unofficial use.
  26. ↑ While this flag was officially adopted by Louisiana in 1861 there is no indication that it actually flew over state buildings up to 1912. In that year (1912) the blue pelican flag was officially adopted after nearly 100 years of unofficial use.

External links

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