The flags of the U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Modern U.S. state flags date from the turn of the 20th century, when states considered distinctive symbols for 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]
The most recently adopted state flag is that of Utah, adopted on March 9, 2024; while the most recently adopted territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands, adopted on July 1, 1985. The flag of the District of Columbia was adopted in 1938. Recent legislation in Massachusetts (2021) has started the process of redesigning their state flag. Illinois legislature will start the redesign process in September 2024. Maine and Michigan also have plans to redesign their flags in the future, but have not been confirmed.
Despite a variety of designs, the majority of the states' flags share the same design pattern consisting of the state seal superimposed on a monochrome background, commonly a shade of blue, which remains a source of criticism from vexillologists. 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 (the latter of which has been changed since the survey was conducted). [2]
Listed alphabetically with their respective date of adoption.
Flag of Alabama
(February 16, 1895)
[3]
Flag of Alaska
(May 2, 1927)
Flag of Arizona
(February 27, 1917)
Flag of Arkansas
(February 26, 1913; formally February 28, 2011)
Flag of California
(February 3, 1911)
Flag of Colorado
(June 5, 1911)
Flag of Connecticut
(September 9, 1897)
Flag of Delaware
(July 24, 1913)
Flag of Florida
(November 6, 1900)
Flag of Georgia
(February 19, 2003)
Flag of Hawaii
(December 29, 1845)
Flag of Idaho
(March 12, 1907)
Flag of Illinois
(September 17, 1969)
Flag of Indiana
(May 11, 1917)
Flag of Iowa
(March 29, 1921)
Flag of Kansas
(September 24, 1961)
Flag of Kentucky
(March 26, 1918)
Flag of Louisiana
(July 1, 1912; formally November 22, 2010)
[4]
Flag of Maine
(February 23, 1909)
Flag of Maryland
(March 9, 1904)
Flag of Massachusetts
(July 3, 1971)
Flag of Michigan
(August 1, 1914)
Flag of Minnesota
(August 2, 1983)
Flag of Mississippi
(January 11, 2021)
[5]
[6]
Flag of Missouri
(March 22, 1913)
Flag of Montana
(July 1, 1981)
Flag of Nebraska
(July 16, 1963)
Flag of Nevada
(July 25, 1991)
Flag of New Hampshire
(1931)
Flag of New Jersey
(May 11, 1896)
[a]
Flag of New Mexico
(March 15, 1925)
Flag of New York
(April 2, 1901)
[b]
Flag of North Carolina
(March 9, 1885; formally June 24, 1991)
[7]
Flag of North Dakota
(March 11, 1911)
Flag of Ohio
(May 9, 1902)
Flag of Oklahoma
(April 2, 1925; formally November 1, 2006)
[8]
[9]
Flag of Oregon (obverse)
(April 15, 1925)
[10]
[11]
Flag of Oregon (reverse) [10]
Flag of Pennsylvania
(June 13, 1907)
Flag of Rhode Island
(November 1, 1897)
Flag of South Carolina
(January 26, 1861)
Flag of South Dakota
(November 9, 1992)
Flag of Tennessee
(April 17, 1905)
Flag of Texas
(January 25, 1839)
[c]
Flag of Utah
(March 9, 2024)
[12]
Flag of Vermont
(June 1, 1923)
Flag of Virginia
(March 28, 1912; formally February 1, 1950)
[13]
Flag of Washington
(March 5, 1923)
[14]
Flag of West Virginia
(March 7, 1929)
Flag of Wisconsin
(May 1, 1981)
[15]
Flag of Wyoming
(January 31, 1917)
This is the current flag of the District of Columbia.
These are the current official flags of the five permanently inhabited territories of the United States. Dates in parentheses denote when the territory's current flag was adopted by its respective political body.
Maine and Massachusetts have ensigns for use at sea.
Flag of Minnesota
(to go into effect on May 11, 2024)
[16]
Many Native American nations have tribal sovereignty, with jurisdiction over their members and reserved land. Although reservations are on state land, the laws of the state(s) do not necessarily apply. [26] Below are the flags of some of the largest Indian tribes reservations by population and area:
The U.S. national flag is the official flag for all islands, atolls, and reefs composing the United States Minor Outlying Islands. However, unofficial flags are sometimes used to represent some of the insular areas in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands:
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.
This act shall become effective November 1, 2006.
Oregon is the only state whose flag has different patterns on each side. The design for the Oregon flag was adopted by the legislature in 1925.
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.)
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.
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