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Flags of the U.S. states and territories facts for kids

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Map showing the current flags of the 50 U.S. states, 5 U.S. territories, and the US federal capital city district.

Did you know that every U.S. state, territory, and even the capital city has its own special flag? These flags are like unique symbols. They show off the history, culture, and special things about each place.

Most state flags look pretty similar. They often have the state's official seal (like a special picture or emblem) placed on a plain background. This background is usually a shade of blue.

The newest state flag is from Mississippi. It was chosen on January 11, 2021. For territories, the newest flag belongs to the Northern Mariana Islands. It was adopted on July 1, 1985.

History of U.S. Flags

When Did State Flags Become Popular?

Most U.S. state flags we see today are quite new. They became popular around the early 1900s. States wanted their own special symbols. This was especially true for big events like the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. This was a huge world's fair!

Many state flags were designed and officially chosen between 1893 and the start of World War I.

Which Flags Are Best Designed?

In 2001, a group called the North American Vexillological Association did a survey. They study flags! They found that New Mexico has the best-designed flag among all U.S. states, territories, and even Canadian provinces.

On the other hand, Georgia's flag was rated the least well-designed at that time. Georgia later changed its flag in 2003. Nebraska's flag was rated second worst, and it still looks the same today.

Current State Flags

Here are the flags for each U.S. state. They are listed in the order that each state joined the United States. For the first thirteen states, they are listed by when they approved the U.S. Constitution.

    Other State Flag Designs

    Sometimes states have other flags for special purposes.

      Current Federal District Flag

      This is the flag for the District of Columbia. This is where the capital of the U.S. is located.

      Current Territory Flags

      The U.S. also has five permanently-inhabited territories of the United States. These are places that belong to the U.S. but are not states. Here are their official flags. The dates show when each flag was chosen.

      Current State Ensigns

      Flags for Use at Sea

      Some states have special flags called "ensigns." These flags are used on ships at sea.

      Historical State and Territory Flags

      How Flags Change Over Time

      Flags can change over the years! Many U.S. states and territories have had different flags throughout their history. These changes often reflect important moments or new ideas in their past. For example, some flags changed after big events like wars or when new symbols became important to the people.

      Native American Flags

      Flags of Sovereign Nations

      Native American tribes are like independent nations within the U.S. They have their own governments and rules on their lands, called Indian reservations. Even though these reservations are within states, the tribal laws apply there. Many of these tribes have their own unique flags to represent their history and people.

      Here are the flags of some of the largest Native American tribes by population and land area:

      See also

      Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Banderas de los Estados Unidos de América para niños

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