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Flags of the U.S. states and territories

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Flags of the U.S. states and territories

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]

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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.

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

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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

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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

Further information: Flags of Native Americans in the United States on Wikimedia Commons
Further information: Official seals of Native American tribes on Wikimedia Commons

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.[67] 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

    External links

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