Flag of South Carolina facts for kids
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| Use | State flag   |
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| Proportion | 2:3 |
| Adopted | January 26, 1861 (modifications made on January 28, 1861) |
| Design | A white palmetto on a blue field with a white increscent in the canton. |
The flag of South Carolina is a special symbol for the U.S. state of South Carolina. It features a blue background with a white palmetto tree and a white crescent moon. This design has a long history, going back to 1775. It was inspired by one of the very first flags used during the American Revolutionary War. While the flag has kept its main look, it has changed a little bit over the years.
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How the Flag Looks
The official design for South Carolina's state flag was decided on January 28, 1861. The state's lawmakers, called the South Carolina General Assembly, described it like this:
…blue, with a white palmetto upright in the centre thereof, and a white increscent in the upper flag staff corner of the flag.
This means the flag has a blue background. In the middle, there's a white palmetto tree standing tall. In the top corner closest to the flagpole, there's a white crescent moon.
A Look Back: The Flag's Story
The Moultrie Flag: A Heroic Beginning
In 1775, during the American Revolutionary War, Colonel William Moultrie was asked to create a flag. This flag was for the soldiers from South Carolina. Moultrie chose blue for the flag, matching the color of the soldiers' uniforms. He also added a crescent moon, which was on their caps. This flag first flew at Fort Johnson.
Colonel Moultrie later wrote about making the flag. He said it was needed for signals because there wasn't a national or state flag yet. He made a large blue flag with a crescent in the corner to match his troops.
This flag became famous during a battle on Sullivan's Island. Colonel Moultrie and his soldiers defended a new fort against a British fleet. During the 16-hour battle on June 28, 1776, the flag was knocked down. But a brave soldier named Sergeant William Jasper ran out into the open. He picked up the flag and put it back up. This act of bravery helped rally the soldiers. It also helped save Charleston from being captured for four years. Because of this, the flag became a powerful symbol of freedom and the Revolution.
People soon called it the Liberty Flag or the Moultrie Flag. It became the main flag for South Carolina's soldiers. After the war, when Charleston was freed, Major General Nathanael Greene presented the flag. He said it was the first American flag to fly in the Southern states.
Later, in 1861, when South Carolina created its current flag, the palmetto tree was added. This was a tribute to Moultrie's fort. The fort survived the British cannon fire because its walls were made of sand and palmetto logs. The soft palmetto wood absorbed the cannonballs instead of breaking.
The Current Flag's Journey
After South Carolina decided to leave the United States, the state needed a new "national flag." Many designs were considered. The first official idea on January 21, 1861, was a white flag with a green palmetto tree. It also had a blue corner with a white crescent. After a week of discussions, the state chose a design similar to the Moultrie flag. It had an upward-facing crescent on a blue background. They added the palmetto tree to the center.
On January 26, 1861, the South Carolina General Assembly officially adopted this new flag. It had a golden palmetto tree inside a white circle. However, this design only lasted two days! On January 28, the golden palmetto was changed to a simple white palmetto directly on the blue background. This is the flag we know today.
This Palmetto Flag quickly became a symbol for those who supported South Carolina leaving the Union. It was displayed in many places, even far away, by groups who supported the Southern states.
In 1909, a historian named Alexander Samuel Salley Jr. worked with Governor Martin F. Ansel. They helped create a state flag for a visit from President Taft. This led to a 1910 law. The law said the flag had to be displayed on public buildings. Clemson College was tasked with making the flags based on the 1861 decision. Salley made sure every detail was correct, including the exact shade of blue. One small change was moving the crescent closer to the flagpole and turning its points inward. However, this 1910 law didn't give many specific design rules. This law was later removed in 1940.
- Flag History
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First official idea (January 21, 1861). This flag was never used.
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First official flag of South Carolina. Used from January 26 to January 28, 1861.
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Current flag of South Carolina, adopted January 28, 1861.
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The Flag During the Civil War Era
Less than three months after its adoption, a version of the palmetto flag was raised over Fort Sumter. This happened on April 14, 1861, when soldiers from Southern states took control of the fort. This flag was one of the first flags used by Southern states to replace the Stars and Stripes of the United States. This specific flag had a palmetto tree on a white background with a red star in the top left corner. It is often called "The Palmetto Guard Flag."
Another flag, called the Sovereignty flag, was also used for a short time in South Carolina. This was after the state decided to leave the United States on December 20, 1860. The South Carolina Sovereignty flag is thought to have inspired some of the flags used by Southern states during the Civil War. There was also a "South Carolina Secession Flag." The day after South Carolina left the Union, a red flag with two tails, a large white star, and a crescent pointing down and to the right was raised over the Charleston Custom House. It then spread to other cities as a symbol of leaving the Union.
At the start of the American Civil War, a similar flag was flown at Morris Island. Cadets from The Citadel flew this flag when they fired upon United States supply ships.
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Sovereignty/Secession Flag
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South Carolina Secession Flag
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South Carolina naval flag during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars
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The flag flown by Citadel cadets over Morris Island, South Carolina during the American Civil War
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Palmetto flag flown by supporters of Southern states in Sacramento, California, on February 23, 1861.
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Flag raised in Nevada City, California on June 20, 1861.
Making the Flag Design Consistent
Even though the flag always has a white palmetto and crescent on a blue background, state law since 1940 hasn't given exact rules. It doesn't specify the "shape, size, design or placement" of the symbols. It also doesn't say the exact shade of blue. Because of this, flags made by different companies can look a little different.
In January 2018, a committee from the South Carolina Senate discussed this issue. They wanted to create a standard design, but a bill to do so didn't move forward right away.
A new standardized design was shown in 2020. However, many people didn't like it because they thought it looked bad. After that, two other designs were suggested. One of these might become the official standard version. But, as of early 2026, new laws to standardize the design have faced delays. State Senator Brad Hutto has been a main voice against making the design standard.
If the flag design becomes standard, a specific shade of dark blue, called Pantone 282 C, would be the official color for the flag.
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The first proposed flag for standardization
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Proposed Standard Design A
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Proposed Standard Design B
Past Flag Design Changes
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Palmetto flag from before the Civil War (around 1830–1860)
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The flag with an upward-angled crescent, shown on a letter from March 26, 1861
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The state flag that was placed on the coffin of Jefferson Davis, 1893.
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Design approved by Alexander Samuel Salley Jr., featuring a tilted crescent and a palmetto from artwork by Ellen Heyward Jervey
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A different version from 1914
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Salley's design as shown in National Geographic, 1917
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The South Carolina state flag as seen on a 1976 postage stamp.
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Images for kids
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South Carolina flag flying below the U.S. flag.
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Flag given in June 1875 by the state to the Washington Light Infantry for the Bunker Hill Centennial in Boston (front side)
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Flag given in June 1875 by the state to the Washington Light Infantry for the Bunker Hill Centennial in Boston (back side)
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State flag given to the Rainbow Division in 1943
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The state flag as shown on a 1963 greetings card.
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The state flag as shown on a 1970 6-cent stamp celebrating South Carolina's 300th anniversary.
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A 2008 South Carolina license plate featuring the state flag.
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See Also
In Spanish: Bandera de Carolina del Sur para niños
