Flag of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Last updated

Flag of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Flag of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.svg
Use Civil and state flag
Proportion3:5 [1]
AdoptedJuly 10, 2018;6 years ago (2018-07-10)
DesignA zigzag pattern of thin white and blue lines, which divides an upper blue portion and a lower pinkish-red portion, and a yellow sun in the upper left corner
Designed byMax Rabkin

The flag of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, consists of a zigzag pattern of thin white and blue lines, which divides an upper blue portion and a lower pinkish-red portion, and a yellow sun in the upper left corner. The zigzag represents the namesake falls of the Big Sioux River. The blue color and the sun allude to the flag of South Dakota. The pinkish-red portion represents the Sioux Quartzite nearby. The upward direction of the design represents the growth of Sioux Falls. The red, white and blue colors included in the flag are also a reference to the flag of the United States while maintaining city and state pride.

Contents

In 2004, the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) rated the design of flags from the 100 largest cities in the U.S., all 50 state capitals and at least two cities per state. Sioux Falls did not have an entry in the rating because it did not have a flag.

The flag of Sioux Falls was designed in 2014 by Max Rabkin. It was chosen as the winner of a design competition for both the "Best in Show" by a panel of experts and the "People's Choice" award. The city officially adopted the flag in 2018. In a 2022 NAVA survey, the flag received an A grade and was rated in the top 25 of over 300 flags introduced since 2015.

Design

Falls Park and Downtown 09-17-23.jpg
Flag of South Dakota.svg
OldMinnehahaCountyCH9.jpg
The flag of Sioux Falls alludes to the namesake falls of the Big Sioux River (left), the flag of South Dakota (center) and Sioux Quartzite like that used in the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse (right).

The flag of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has a 3:5 ratio [1] and consists of:

The red, white and blue colors included in the flag are also a reference to the flag of the United States while maintaining city and state pride. [3] [9]

History

A flag of Sioux Falls in Downtown Sioux Falls, with a flag of South Dakota in the background Flag of Sioux Falls in Downtown Sioux Falls.jpg
A flag of Sioux Falls in Downtown Sioux Falls, with a flag of South Dakota in the background

In 2004, the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) rated the design of flags from the 100 largest cities in the U.S., all 50 state capitals and at least two cities per state. [10] Sioux Falls was not included in the rating because it did not have a flag, but the mayor, Dave Munson, did not know why it did not. [11]

In 2014, a design conference hosted by OTA, an organization that connects creative communities in the "-ota" states (South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota), [12] was held at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. The invited speaker Roman Mars noted that Sioux Falls was one of only three major U.S. cities (along with Fargo, North Dakota, and Hilo, Hawaii) not to have an official flag. [2] [13] OTA combined with the Sioux Falls Design Center and the American Institute of Graphic Arts to form The Committee to Establish a Suitable Flying Banner for the City of Sioux Falls (CESFBCSF) to design a flag for the city. [2] [13]

The CESFBCSF held a public design contest and 91 entries were submitted. [13] One flag won both the "Best in Show" by a panel of experts and the "People's Choice" award from over 3000 community votes. [2] [3] The designer, Max Rabkin, released the flag to the public domain. [13] [14] Ted Kaye, a vexillological expert [2] and president of NAVA, [3] stated that the design would be considered one of the best city flags in the U.S. [15]

The CESFBCSF tried multiple times to go to the city council [2] and wrote them a letter to adopt the flag, but the city council had little interest. [15] In 2016 the flag was introduced to the city council and former mayor, Mike Huether, but the council was busy with other issues. [2] The CESFBCSF thought that the cost would be a potential issue and offered to pay for flags, but there was still no interest. [2] [3]

A flag of Sioux Falls in front of Zandbroz Variety in Downtown Sioux Falls Rummel Brothers Block, Phillips Street, Sioux Falls, SD.jpg
A flag of Sioux Falls in front of Zandbroz Variety in Downtown Sioux Falls

Despite a lack of interest from the city council and mayor, there was a grassroots support-building effort [16] to build community interest, which led local media to call it "The People's Flag". [2] [17] Local media identified the flag as a symbol of the community [4] and it was displayed at homes, businesses [3] and even a local march. [2] Downtown businesses contributed to the grassroots effort [3] [16] through flag-related sales. [2] [3]

There was a renewed push to get the flag approved in 2018 after the election of a new mayor, Paul Ten Haken. [13] The council had concerns the flag would not have copyright protection, but it was argued that a flag in the public domain would be for all people. [14] The city officially adopted the flag when it was approved unanimously by the Sioux Falls City Council on July 10, 2018. [16] [18] By November 2018, the flag was being flown in front of city buildings and inside the mayor's office. [19]

Local businesses and organizations have embraced the flag by creating flag merchandise. The flag has appeared on t-shirts of local businesses, on the jersey of the Sioux Falls Skyforce professional basketball team, and even on a Metallica concert graphic. [17]

In a 2022 NAVA survey, the flag received an A grade and was rated in the top 25 of over 300 flags introduced since 2015. [20] [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard F. Pettigrew</span> American politician (1848–1926)

Richard Franklin Pettigrew was an American lawyer, surveyor, and land developer. He represented the Dakota Territory in the U.S. Congress and, after the Dakotas were admitted as States, he was the first U.S. Senator from South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of South Dakota</span> Official flag of the U.S. state of South Dakota

The current flag of South Dakota was adopted in 1992 to represent the U.S. state of South Dakota. It consists of a field of sky blue charged with a version of the state seal in the center, surrounded by gold triangles representing the sun's rays, surrounded in turn by inscriptions in gold sans-serif capitals of "south dakota" on top and "the mount rushmore state" on the bottom. The sun represents the common weather in South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Vexillological Association</span> Flag-studies organization

The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a membership organization devoted to vexillology, the study of flags. It was founded in 1967 by American vexillologist Whitney Smith, and others. Its membership of 1,100+ comprises flag scholars, enthusiasts, designers, collectors, conservators, educators, merchants, manufacturers, historians, and hobbyists from most states and provinces of the United States and Canada, and more than 30 other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDLT-TV</span> TV station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

KDLT-TV is a television station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox. It is owned by Gray Television alongside ABC affiliate KSFY-TV. The two stations share studios in Courthouse Square on 1st Avenue South in Sioux Falls; KDLT-TV's transmitter is located southeast of the city near Rowena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Nashville, Tennessee</span> City flag of Nashville, Tennessee

The flag of Nashville, Tennessee, consists of the city's seal on a white disc surrounded by a field of blue, with a strip of gold on the fly. According to the resolution adopting the flag, the blue stands for the courage and conviction of the city's leaders throughout history, while the gold denotes the richness of city's land and resources. The flag was adopted in December 1963 when the governments of Nashville and Davidson County merged to form the Metro government. In an official ceremony, it was reigned in as the new flag on August 4, 1964, at the Metropolitan Courthouse. The flag is modeled after the Tennessee state flag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science</span> United States historic place

The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science opened in 1999 and houses an art gallery, concert hall, large-format theater, and science museum in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. Its building, the former Washington High School, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

KGWD is a radio station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States. KGWD is owned and operated by Real Presence Radio, a Catholic radio network based in Fargo, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux Quartzite</span> Type of quartzite rock

The Sioux Quartzite is a Proterozoic quartzite that is found in the region around the intersection of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Iowa, and correlates with other rock units throughout the upper midwestern and southwestern United States. It was formed by braided river deposits, and its correlative units are thought to possibly define a large sedimentary wedge that once covered the passive margin on the then-southern side of the North American craton. In human history, it provided the catlinite, or pipestone, that was used by the Plains Indians to carve ceremonial pipes. With the arrival of Europeans, it was heavily quarried for building stone, and was used in many prominent structures in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and shipped to construction sites around the Midwest. Sioux Quartzite has been and continues to be quarried in Jasper, Minnesota at the Jasper Stone Company and Quarry, which itself was posted to the National Register of Historic Places on January 5, 1978. Jasper, Minnesota contains many turn-of-the-century quartzite buildings, including the school, churches and several other public and private structures, mostly abandoned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux Area Metro</span> Local government transit agency in South Dakota

The Sioux Area Metro (SAM) is the local governmental transit agency in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the state's largest public transportation operator. They provide multiple scheduled fixed routes and paratransit services. In December 2023, city council members voted unanimously to select Via as its technology and operations partner. In 2023, the system had a ridership of 559,400, or about 1,800 per weekday as of the second quarter of 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federal Building and United States Courthouse (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)</span> United States historic place

The Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, also known as U.S. Courthouse, Sioux Falls, is a historic federal office and courthouse building located at Sioux Falls in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. The building is still in use as a federal courthouse, being the seat of the United States District Court for the District of South Dakota. The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

East Sioux Falls was a city located in southeastern Minnehaha County, South Dakota located about 6 miles east of Sioux Falls along South Dakota Highway 42 on the Big Sioux River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hugill & Blatherwick</span> American architectural firm

Hugill & Blatherwick was an architectural firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and active throughout the state of South Dakota. It was founded by architects George C. Hugill and Wilfred F. Blatherwick in 1921. Their successors managed the firm, under other names, until its dissolution in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sioux Falls Roller Dollz</span> Roller derby league

Sioux Falls Roller Dollz (SFRD) is a women's flat track roller derby league based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Founded in 2006, the league currently consists of two teams, and two mixed teams which compete against teams from other leagues. Sioux Falls is a member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perkins & McWayne</span>

Perkins & McWayne was an architectural firm based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and active throughout the state of South Dakota. It was established in 1917 by architects Robert A. Perkins and Albert McWayne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wallace L. Dow</span> American architect

Wallace L. Dow (1844-1911), often known as W. L. Dow, was an architect of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He has been referred to as the "Builder on the Prairie" and was "considered the premier architect of South Dakota in the late 19th century."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Minnehaha County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Old Minnehaha County Courthouse, located at Main Avenue and 6th Street in Sioux Falls, is the former county courthouse of Minnehaha County, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States Senate election in South Dakota</span>

The 2020 United States Senate election in South Dakota was held on November 3, 2020, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of South Dakota, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Mike Rounds was reelected to a second term in office, overperforming Donald Trump in the concurrent presidential election by 4.93 points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Provo, Utah</span> Municipal flag

The municipal flag of Provo, Utah, United States, features the city's logo on a light blue field. It was adopted on January 6, 2015, after a multi-year debate to replace the previous one. The former flag, adopted in 1989, was ridiculed in particular for its perceived ugliness and its similarity to the Centrum logo, and was voted one of the worst American city flags by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul TenHaken</span> American businessman and website developer

Paul Joseph TenHaken is an American businessman and website developer who has served as the mayor of Sioux Falls, South Dakota since May 15, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election</span>

The 1940 South Dakota gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 1940. Incumbent Republican Governor Harlan J. Bushfield sought re-election to a second term. After winning the Republican primary by a large margin, he faced Democrat Lewis W. Bicknell, former Day County State's Attorney, in the general election. Though Bushfield underperformed Republican presidential nominee Wendell Willkie, who won the state in a landslide, he nonetheless defeated Bicknell by a wide margin to easily win re-election.

References

  1. 1 2 "A Gift For You". siouxfallsflag.com. 2018. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "On Flag Day Mayor TenHaken Supports a Sioux Falls Flag". 605 Magazine. June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Tuchscherer, Rebekah (June 6, 2018). "Is Sioux Falls ready to make 'the people's flag' official?". Argus Leader . Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Santella, Dan (July 11, 2018). "Sioux Falls Flag Resolution Passes". KELO. Archived from the original on July 13, 2018. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Monthly History Article: October 2016-The Many Nicknames of South Dakota". South Dakota Historical Society Foundation. October 1, 2016. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "National Register of Historic Places Sioux Falls Public Library", National Register of Historic Places , National Park Service, March 14, 1973, retrieved July 17, 2018
  7. ↑ U.S. Courthouse, Sioux Falls, SD, U.S. General Services Administration , retrieved July 17, 2018
  8. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places Old Minnehaha County Courthouse", National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, May 10, 1973, retrieved July 17, 2018
  9. ↑ "Sioux Falls Adopts City Flag". The Associated Press. July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  10. ↑ Kaye, Edward B. (2005). "The American City Flag Survey of 2004" (PDF). Raven: A Journal of Vexillology. 12. North American Vexillological Association: 27–62. doi:10.5840/raven2005122. ISSN   1071-0043 . Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Experts rank Rapid City's banner 148th 'That's not our flag,' mayor says". Black Hills Pioneer . December 2, 2014. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  12. ↑ Ferguson, Danielle (July 7, 2014). "Group wants to unfurl Sioux Falls' identity in a flag". Argus Leader. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Albers, Monica (August 31, 2017). "The People's Flag: How One Design is Sparking Conversation". 605 Magazine. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  14. 1 2 Tuchscherer, Rebekah (June 13, 2018). "Sioux Falls flag update: Council worried that city brand won't be protected". Argus Leader. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  15. 1 2 Hult, John (February 3, 2017). "Does South Dakota's flag need a reboot?". Argus Leader. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  16. 1 2 3 Tuchscherer, Rebekah (July 10, 2018). "City Council votes unanimously to adopt official Sioux Falls flag". Argus Leader. Retrieved July 13, 2018.
  17. 1 2 Patrick Anderson (September 20, 2018). "Sioux Falls businesses embrace newly official flag". Argus Leader. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Sioux Falls City Council approves city flag". KSFY. July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  19. ↑ Vanessa Gomez (November 29, 2018). "Sioux Falls community embraces official flag of the city". KSFY. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  20. ↑ "2022 New American City Flags Survey". North American Vexillological Association. 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Flags in Order of Rating". North American Vexillological Association. 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.