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.
Contents
History[edit]
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[edit]
Dates in parentheses denote when the flag was adopted by the state's legislature.
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![Flag of Alabama(February 16, 1895)[3]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Alabama.svg)
![Flag of Louisiana (November 22, 2010)[4]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Louisiana.svg)
![Flag of Mississippi (April 23, 1894 & February 7, 2001 see notes)[5]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Mississippi.svg)
![Flag of North Carolina (March 2, 1885)[6]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_North_Carolina.svg)
![Flag of Oklahoma (November 1, 2006)[7][8]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Oklahoma.svg)
![Flag of Oregon (obverse) (April 15, 1925)[9]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Oregon.svg)
![Flag of Utah (February 16, 2011)[10][11][12][13]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Utah_%28enhanced_variant%29.svg)
![Flag of Virginia (February 1, 1950)[14]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Virginia.svg)
![Flag of Washington[15] (August 25, 1923)](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Washington.svg)
![Flag of Wisconsin (May 1, 1981)[16]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Wisconsin.svg)
Current state ensigns[edit]
Maine and Massachusetts have ensigns differing from the state flag for use at sea.
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Historical state flags[edit]
Former state flags[edit]
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![Flag of Florida(September 1868 – November 1900)[17]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Florida_%281868-1900%29.png)
![Flag of Florida(November 1900 – May 1985)[17]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Florida_%281900-1985%29.svg)
![Flag of Louisiana(February 1861 – 1912)[18]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AFlag_of_Louisiana_%28February_1861%29.svg)
American Civil War[edit]
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![Flag of Alabama(November 7, 1861 – November 12, 1865, obverse)[3]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AAlabama_1861_Obverse.svg)
![Flag of Alabama(November 7, 1861 – November 12, 1865, reverse)[3]](https://thcscience.wiki/term/cannabaceae/cannabis/cannabis-sativa/?rdp_we_resource=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20151105160104%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FFile%3AAlabama_1861_Reverse.svg)
Texas Revolution[edit]
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Other[edit]
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See also[edit]
- Flags of governors of the U.S. states
- History of the flags of the United States (including territory, federal district, county and city flags)
- Flags of the U.S. counties
- Flags of cities of the United States
- List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia
- Flags of the Confederate States of America
Notes[edit]
- ^ 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[edit]
- ^ Artimovich, Nick. "Questions & Answers". North American Vexillological Association. p. 8. Retrieved 2007-03-20.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. 2006-04-27. Retrieved 2007-03-18.
- ^ Anderson, Ed (November 22, 2010). "New Louisiana state flag with bleeding pelican is unfurled". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
- ^ a b 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.)
- ^ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library (State of North Carolina). Retrieved 2008-01-26.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1359". Oklahoma State Courts Network. May 23, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
This act shall become effective November 1, 2006.
- ^ Text states that Oregon adopted its flag in 1925
- ^ Dan Bammes (2011-02-17). "Legislature: Fixing the Flag". KUER-FM. Retrieved 2011-02-17.
- ^ "Utah State Flag Concurrent Resolution, 2011 General Session, State of Utah". Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ Keith McCord (12 February 2011). "Resolution aims to correct state flag goof". KSL-TV. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
- ^ Dennis Romboy (9 March 2011). "Utahns celebrate first State Flag Day". KSL-TV. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
- ^ 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.)
- ^ "Symbols of Washington State". Washington State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Florida Constitution Revision Commission (August 4, 2005). "Amendments, Election of 11-6-1900". The Florida State University. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
- ^ 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.
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