Flags of the U.S. states and territories

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Map showing the flags of the 50 states of the United States, its five territories, and the capital district, Washington, D.C. United States state flags, territory flags, and DC flags24.png
Map showing the flags of the 50 states of the United States, its five territories, and the capital district, Washington, D.C.

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]

Contents

The most recently adopted state flag is that of Minnesota, adopted on May 11, 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 legislations in Massachusetts (2021) and Illinois (2024) have started the process of redesigning their state flag. Michigan also has plans to redesign their flag in the future, but this has not been confirmed. Maine had put a flag redesign on the ballot in November 2024, but the redesign had failed the vote. [2] [3]

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). [4]

Current state flags

Listed alphabetically with their respective date of adoption.

Current federal district flag

This is the current flag of the District of Columbia.

Current territory flags

These are the current official flags of the five permanently inhabited territories of the United States.

Current state ensigns

Maine and Massachusetts have ensigns for use at sea.

Former state ensigns

Commemorative state flags

Historical state and territory flags

Former state flags

Former territory flags

Pre-statehood flags

California, Texas, and Hawaii were independent nations with flags before entering the union. The Utah Territory had a flag before receiving statehood.

Native American flags

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. [30] Below are the flags of some of the largest Indian tribes reservations by population and area:

Unofficial flags of United States Minor Outlying Islands

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 these insular areas:

See also

Notes

    References

    1. ↑ Artimovich, Nick. "Questions & Answers". North American Vexillological Association. p. 8. Archived from the original on April 17, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
    2. ↑ General Election Ballot Referendum Questions
    3. ↑ Budion, Kaitlyn (November 6, 2024). "Referendum to replace Maine state flag fails". Maine Public. Retrieved December 15, 2024.
    4. ↑ Kaye, Ted (June 10, 2001). "New Mexico tops state/provincial flags survey, Georgia loses by wide margin". North American Vexillological Association. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
    5. ↑ "Official Symbols and Emblems of Alabama: State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Department of Archives & History. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
    6. ↑ "Arkansas Secretary of State". www.sos.arkansas.gov. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
    7. ↑ "State Flag". Colorado State Archives. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
    8. ↑ "Delaware Facts & Symbols". Viola Delaware. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
    9. ↑ Smith, Whitney. "flag of Florida". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
    10. ↑ "Flags That Have Flown Over Georgia: The History of the Georgia State Flag". Secretary of State of Georgia. 2003. Archived from the original on September 16, 2008. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
    11. ↑ Smith, Whitney. "flag of Idaho". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
    12. ↑ "Official State Flag". Illinois Facts. Archived from the original on June 28, 2010.
    13. ↑ Smith, Whitney. "flag of Indiana". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
    14. ↑ Encyclopedia of Kentucky , New York, New York: Somerset Publishers, 1987, ISBN   0-403-09981-1
    15. ↑ Bonham, Milledge L., Jr. "The Flags of Louisiana." The Louisiana Historical Quarterly 2.1 (1919): 439-446.
    16. ↑ Chapter 48, Acts of 1904, effective March 9, 1904
    17. ↑ "HF 1830 4th Engrossment". MN Revisor's Office. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
    18. ↑ "Mississippi Legislature 2020 Regular Session House Bill 1796". Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System. July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
    19. ↑ State Flag - Missouri Secretary of State
    20. ↑ NH.gov. "State Flag, New Hampshire Almanac" . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
    21. ↑ "New York (U.S.)". Crwflags.com. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
    22. ↑ Huntington, Webster Perit, ed. (July 1906). "The Flag of Ohio (editorial)". The Ohio Illustrated Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 1. pp. 96–97 – via Google Books.
    23. ↑ "The Oklahoma State Flag". NetState. NState, LLC. February 6, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
    24. ↑ "Status of the Pennsylvania Flag". September 12, 2007. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
    25. ↑ Darnell, Riley C. (2006), Tennessee Blue Book (PDF), Nashville, Tennessee: State of Tennessee, pp. 515–516, archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2015
    26. ↑ Flags of Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online
    27. ↑ Ellis, Josh (March 2, 2023). "Utah Legislature approves new state flag". KSL.
    28. ↑ "The Vermont State Flag". NetState.com. September 24, 2009.
    29. ↑ State of Wisconsin, "Section: 1.08: State flag", Laws of 1979, archived from the original on June 10, 2023, retrieved August 21, 2015
    30. ↑ https://www.bia.gov/frequently-asked-questions BIA. U.S. Department of the Interior. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
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