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List of flags of the United States

(Redirected from History of the flags of the United States)

See also: Flags of the U.S. states and territories

This is a list of flags in the United States describing the evolution of the flag of the United States, as well as other flags used within the United States, such as the flags of governmental agencies. There are also separate flags for embassies and ships.

A 2.00 m × 1.70 m oil painting showing historical US flags.

National flags

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Main article: Flag of the United States

Historical progression of designs

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Since 1818, a star for each new state has been added to the flag on the Fourth of July the year immediately following each state's admission. In years in which multiple states have been admitted, the corresponding number of stars were added to the flag. This change has typically been the only change made with each revision of the flag since 1777, with the exception of changes in 1795 and 1818, which increased the number of stripes to 15 and then returned it to 13, respectively. As the exact pattern of stars was not specified prior to 1912, many of the historical U.S. national flags (shown below) have had varied arrangements of the stars.[1]

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      1776–1777 (the "Grand Union Flag")
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      1777–1795 (13 stars)
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      Betsy Ross circular 13-star version (1792) *other
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      "Hopkinson" version (1777–1795) *other
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      Battle of Bennington version (1777) *other
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      1795–1818 (the "Star-Spangled Banner", 15 stars, 15 stripes)
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      1818–1819 (20 stars)
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      1819–1820 (21 stars)
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      1820–1822 (23 stars)
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      1822–1836 (24 stars)
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      1836–1837 (25 stars)
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      1837–1845 (26 stars)
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      1845–1846 (27 stars)
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      1846–1847 (28 stars)
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      1847–1848 (29 stars)
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      1848–1851 (30 stars)
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      1851–1858 (31 stars)
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      1858–1859 (32 stars)
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      1859–1861 (33 stars)
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      1861–1863 (34 stars)
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      1863–1865 (35 stars)
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      1865–1867 (36 stars)
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      1867–1877 (37 stars)
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      1877–1890 (38 stars)
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      1890–1891 (43 stars)
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      1891–1896 (44 stars)
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      1896–1908 (45 stars)
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      1908–1912 (46 stars)
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      1912–1959 (48 stars)
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      1959–1960 (49 stars)
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      1960–present (50 stars)

Other historical versions

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Executive branch flags

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Office of the President

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Office of the Vice President

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Department of State

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Department of the Treasury

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Department of Defense

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See also: Flags of the United States Armed Forces

Department of the Army

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Army

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Department of the Navy

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Marine Corps
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Department of the Air Force

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Air Force
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Space Force
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National Guard Bureau

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Civil Air Patrol
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The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It has quasi-military organizational and rank structures modeled on those of the Air Force.[2]

Department of Justice

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Department of the Interior

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Department of Agriculture

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Department of Commerce

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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

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      Flag of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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      Flag of the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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      Flag of the Deputy Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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      Flag of an Associate Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps

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Department of Labor

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Department of Health and Human Services

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United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps

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Department of Housing and Urban Development

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Department of Transportation

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Department of Energy

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Department of Education

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Department of Veterans Affairs

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Department of Homeland Security

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Coast Guard

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Legislative branch flags

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Congress

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Other federal flags

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Many agencies, departments, and offices of the U.S. federal government have their own flags, guidons, or standards. Following traditional American vexillology, these usually consist of the agency's departmental seal on a blank opaque background, but not always.

State and territory flags

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Main article: Flags of the U.S. states and territories

 
Map showing the flags of the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the five inhabited U.S. territories

The flags of the U.S. states, territories, and federal district exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Nonetheless, the majority of the states' flags share the same design pattern consisting of the state seal superimposed on a monochrome background, commonly every different shade of blue, which remains a source of criticism from vexillologists.

The most recent current state flag is that of Minnesota (May 11, 2024), while the most recent current territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands (July 1, 1985).

History

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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.[3]

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.[4] (Georgia adopted a new flag in 2003; Nebraska's state flag, whose design was rated second worst, remains in use to date.)

Current state flags

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

Current federal district flag

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Current inhabited territory flags

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County flags

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Main article: commons:Flags of counties of the United States

City flags

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Main article: commons:Flags of cities of the United States

Maritime flags

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Ensigns

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Main article: Ensign of the United States

National

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Since 1777, the national ensign of the United States has also simultaneously served as its national flag. The current version is shown below; for previous versions, please see the section Historical progression of designs above.

States

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Other

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Jacks
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Main article: Jack of the United States
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      Union Jack (state jack, 2002–present; naval and state jack, 1960–2002, 2019–present)
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      First Navy Jack (naval jack for all warships 1975–1976 & 2002–2019; for oldest commissioned warship 1980–present)
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      Naval Jack (circa 1776)

Distinctive marks

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Main article: Distinctive mark

Commissioning pennants

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Main article: Commissioning pennant

Native American tribal flags

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Further information: Flags of Native Americans in the United States on Wikimedia Commons

Associated state flags

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While the countries mentioned are recognized independent nations with United Nations seats, the United States maintains and exercises jurisdictional control over the countries in defense, security, and funding grants.

Historical flags

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Thirteen Colonies

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Main article: Red Ensign

American Revolutionary War

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Former federal flags

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Other states

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Former territories and administered areas

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Flag of the United States of America". The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Civil Air Patrol". AF.mil. United States Air Force. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010.
  3. ^ Artimovich, Nick. "Questions & Answers". North American Vexillological Association. p. 8. Archived from the original on April 17, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
  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. ^ "State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. April 27, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  6. ^ Anderson, Ed (November 22, 2010). "New Louisiana state flag with bleeding pelican is unfurled". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
  7. ^ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
  8. ^ "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. ^ "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. ^ Dan Bammes (February 17, 2011). "Legislature: Fixing the Flag". KUER-FM. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
  12. ^ 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.)
  13. ^ State of Wisconsin. "286". Section: 1.08: State flag. 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. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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