Flag of Arizona facts for kids
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| Use | Civil and state flag |
|---|---|
| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | January 25, 1917 |
The flag of Arizona is a colorful symbol of the state. It has 13 rays of red and gold on the top half. These colors come from the flag of Spain. They also stand for the 13 original states of the USA. The red and gold also remind us of Arizona's beautiful sunsets.
In the middle of the flag, there is a large copper-colored star. This star represents Arizona's important copper mining industry. The bottom half of the flag is blue. This blue color stands for the Colorado River, which is a major river in Arizona.
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What the Arizona Flag Means
The Arizona flag tells a story about the state. The top part has 13 rays, which are like sunbeams. These rays are red and gold. They represent the 13 original states that formed the United States. These colors also show the beautiful sunsets Arizona is known for.
The big copper star in the center shows that Arizona is a major producer of copper. This metal has been very important to the state's economy. The blue color on the bottom part of the flag stands for the Colorado River. This river is vital for Arizona's water supply and natural beauty.
How the Flag Was Created
The idea for the Arizona flag came from a rifle team in 1910. Colonel Charles Wilfred Harris led the Arizona National Guard rifle team. When they went to a competition in Ohio, their team was the only one without a special flag.
Colonel Harris wanted a flag for his team. He worked with others to design it. W. R. Stewart, who led the Mesa Rifle Team, also helped. Stewart's wife, Mae, even sewed the very first flag for the competition.
Other people were also involved in creating the flag. Carl Hayden, who became Arizona's first U.S. Congressman, helped with the design. His wife, Nan Hayden, is said to have sewn the first state flag. Rachael Berry, a leader for women's rights and the first woman elected to the Arizona Legislature, also helped design the flag. It seems many people worked together to create this important symbol.
The colors blue and gold were chosen because they are Arizona's state colors. The red and gold also connect to early Spanish explorers like Francisco Vázquez de Coronado. He explored Arizona in 1540 looking for cities of gold.
Adopting the Flag
The Arizona Legislature officially adopted the flag on February 17, 1917. This means they voted to make it the state's official flag. Interestingly, the governor at the time, Thomas Edward Campbell, did not sign the bill into law. Even without his signature, the flag became official.
In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association ranked flags. They said the Arizona flag was one of the "10 best flags on the continent." It ranked sixth out of 72 flags for its design.
Flag Design Details
To make the Arizona flag correctly, its height should be two units tall. Its width should be three units wide. This means it's wider than it is tall.
The sun rays at the top are divided into 13 equal sections. They start with red and then switch to gold, alternating colors. The copper star in the middle is one unit tall. The blue part at the bottom is one unit tall and three units wide.
The red and blue colors on the flag are the same shades used on the flag of the United States. However, the exact shades for the copper and gold colors are not set in law. A common size for the flag is four feet by six feet, with the star being two feet tall.
Images for kids
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State flag in Slide Rock State Park near Sedona, Arizona
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See also
In Spanish: Bandera de Arizona para niños
