Flag of Utah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
State of Utah

Name	The Beehive Flag
Use	Civil and state flag
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	March 9, 2024; 2 years ago (2024-03-09)
Design	Rectangle divided into three sections by two lines, with blue on top, white in the middle housing a blue hexagon outlined in gold with a gold beehive inside, a white five-pointed star below, and red at the bottom.
Name	Historic State Flag
Proportion	5:8
Adopted	July 25, 1913; 112 years ago (1913-07-25) (Final iteration: February 16, 2011; 15 years ago (2011-02-16))
Design	A state coat of arms encircled in a golden circle with the number "1896" written in white text, on a field of dark navy blue.

The flag of Utah is a special symbol for the state. It was officially chosen on March 9, 2024. This flag has three main colors: blue, white, and red, arranged in stripes. In the middle white stripe, you'll see a blue hexagon with a gold outline. Inside the hexagon is a gold beehive, and below it is a white five-pointed star.

Utah also has a "Historic State Flag." This older flag, used from 1913 to 2024, is still an official symbol. You can see it flying at the Utah Capitol building all year. People can also fly this historic flag whenever they like.

What the Law Says About the Utah Flag

Every state has laws that describe its official symbols. The law for Utah's flag explains exactly what it should look like. It says the flag is a rectangle, wider than it is tall. It has three parts: a blue top, a white middle, and a red bottom.

The white middle part is special. Its top edge looks like five snowy mountain peaks. The center peak is the tallest. In the very middle of the white section is a blue hexagon. This hexagon has a gold outline. Inside it, there's a gold beehive symbol. Below the beehive, you'll find a white five-pointed star.

Understanding the Utah Flag's Design and Symbols

The colors of Utah's flag—red, white, and blue—are like those on the flag of the United States. This shows Utah's connection to the nation. Each part of the flag has a special meaning.

The blue stripe at the top stands for Utah's clear skies and beautiful lakes. It also reminds us of important ideas like faith, knowledge, and freedom. This blue color also looks like the background of Utah's older, historic flag.

The white stripe in the middle represents peace. Its top edge is shaped like five mountain peaks covered in snow. These peaks show Utah's amazing mountains.

The red stripe at the bottom reminds us of the red rock deserts and canyons in Southern Utah. It also symbolizes the strong spirit of the people who live there.

In the center of the flag, the gold beehive is a very important symbol. It shows that Utah is known as the "Beehive State." The beehive stands for hard work, success, and people working together. The gold hexagon around the beehive looks like honeycomb. It represents the strength of Utah's communities.

Below the beehive, the white five-pointed star has two meanings. It honors the five original Native American tribal nations of Utah. It also reminds us that Utah was the 45th state to join the United States.

Colors of the Utah Flag

The official colors for the Utah flag are very specific. Here's a look at the main colors used:

Color scheme	Navy Blue	White	Dark Red	Amber
CMYK	90-60-0-71	0-0-0-0	0-99-100-33	0-28-89-0
HEX	#071D49	#FFFFFF	#AA0200	#FFB81D
RGB	7-29-73	255-255-255	170-2-0	255-184-29

A Look at Utah's Flag History

Utah has a rich history, and its flags have changed over time. Each flag tells a part of the state's story.

Early Flags Before Statehood

Before Utah became a state, pioneers and settlers used different flags. These flags often showed symbols important to their communities.

Pioneer Era Flags

One early flag was designed in 1848 to unite the pioneers. It was lost but later recreated in 2002. This flag has flown on Ensign Peak since then. Pioneers also carried banners with portraits and names.

Flag of the State of Deseret

The flag for the State of Deseret was similar to Utah's current flag. However, there wasn't one official design, so many different flags were used.

Utah Territory Flags

During the time Utah was a territory (1850–1896), people often flew unique homemade American flags. One territorial flag design featured the Stars and Stripes with 13 stars and a bald eagle. The eagle was shown above a beehive with a large star below it.

Flags of the State of Utah

The 1903 Flag Design

A display at the Utah State Capitol describing the history of the flag

Utah's first official state flag was created in 1903. It was a blue flag with the Seal of Utah and the year "1896" embroidered in white. This flag was first used at a big event in St. Louis, Missouri. It became the official state flag by law on March 9, 1911.

The 1913 Flag Design

The Utah state flag as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.

Early state flag with a hand painted seal (obverse)

(reverse)

In 1912, a group ordered a new flag for a battleship named USS Utah. When the flag arrived, the seal on it was in full color and had a gold ring. Instead of changing the flag, Utah's lawmakers decided to change the law. This made the new design with the colorful seal and gold ring the official flag in 1913.

Template:Gallery mode="packed" heights="120" Later, in 2011, lawmakers noticed a small mistake on all Utah state flags. The year "1847" was in the wrong place on the seal. This mistake had been there since 1922! A new law was passed to fix this error. March 9 was also made an annual Utah State Flag day.

1927 Redesign Attempt

A vintage small flag with the pre-2011 design.

In 1927, Governor George Dern wanted a simpler flag for Utah. He thought it would be easier and cheaper to make. A woman named Lilliebell Falck even suggested some designs. Her favorite had a white beehive with 28 lines for Utah's counties. However, this idea was not chosen because some groups did not agree with the changes.

The 2024 Flag Design

Proposed flag of Utah (2019)

In recent years, many people felt Utah's flag could be improved. In 2018, some state representatives suggested creating a new flag. They wanted to get ideas from the public. These early efforts did not succeed.

In 2021, a bill was passed to create a special group called a "task force." This group's job was to redesign the Utah state flag. The bill also created a special flag to celebrate Utah's 125th anniversary of statehood.

The task force asked people to submit their own flag designs. They received over 5,700 ideas, with many coming from students! In September 2022, 20 designs were chosen as semifinalists. People in Utah gave over 44,000 comments on these designs.

On November 10, 2022, the task force presented a final design to the state lawmakers. The design was approved by the State Senate on January 30, 2023. During this process, a small change was made. An eight-pointed star was replaced with a five-pointed star. This new star, along with five mountain peaks, represents the five original Native American tribal nations of Utah.

Final chosen design

The Utah House of Representatives approved the bill on March 2, 2023. Governor Spencer Cox signed the bill into law on March 21, 2023. The new flag officially went into effect on March 9, 2024.

The historic state flag (top) and the new state flag (bottom) flying over the Utah State Capitol in 2023, prior to the new flag's official adoption.

The law also made the previous flag the official "Historic State Flag." It continues to fly above the state capitol every day. The new flag and the historic flag are now flown from different flagpoles on the capitol grounds.

Attempts to Change the 2024 Flag

Some people did not agree with the new flag design. They tried to gather enough signatures to have a public vote on the flag in 2023 and again in 2024. However, these efforts did not collect enough signatures to qualify for a vote. A lawsuit was also filed against the process, but it was later withdrawn. In 2024, a state representative also proposed a bill to repeal the new flag, but it did not pass.

See also

In Spanish: Bandera de Utah para niños

• Symbols of the State of Utah