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

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

The flags of the U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Nonetheless, 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.

The most recently adopted state flag is that of Mississippi, adopted on January 11, 2021, while the most recently adopted territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands, adopted on July 1, 1985.

History

Modern U.S. state flags as contemporarily understood date from the turn of the 20th century, when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 and World War I.

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 design (Georgia adopted a new flag in 2003; Nebraska's state flag, whose design was rated second worst, remains in use to date).

Current state flags

Arranged in order of each state's admission to the Union (and for the first thirteen, the order of their ratification of the Constitution):

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  Flag of Delaware
  (July 24, 1913)

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  Flag of Pennsylvania
  (April 24, 1907)

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  Flag of New Jersey
  (January 15, 1896)

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  Flag of Georgia
  (February 19, 2003)

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  Flag of Connecticut
  (September 9, 1897)

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  Flag of Massachusetts
  (March 21, 1908)

• 

  Flag of Maryland
  (November 25, 1904)

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  Flag of South Carolina
  (January 28, 1861)

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  Flag of New Hampshire
  (November 30, 1931)

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  Flag of Virginia
  (February 1, 1950)

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  Flag of New York
  (April 1, 1901)

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  Flag of North Carolina
  (June 24, 1991)

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  Flag of Rhode Island
  (July 27, 1640, formally November 1, 1897)

• 

  Flag of Vermont
  (April 17, 1923)

• 

  Flag of Kentucky
  (March 26, 1918)

• 

  Flag of Tennessee
  (February 3, 1905)

• 

  Flag of Ohio
  (May 9, 1902)

• 

  Flag of Louisiana
  (November 22, 2010)

• 

  Flag of Indiana
  (May 31, 1917)

• 

  Flag of Mississippi
  (January 11, 2021)

• 

  Flag of Illinois
  (June 27, 1969)

• 

  Flag of Alabama
  (February 16, 1895)

• 

  Flag of Maine
  (June 16, 1909)

• 

  Flag of Missouri
  (September 4, 1913)

• 

  Flag of Arkansas
  (March 16, 1924)

• 

  Flag of Michigan
  (June 26, 1911)

• 

  Flag of Florida
  (May 21, 1985)

• 

  Flag of Texas
  (January 25, 1839)

• 

  Flag of Iowa
  (March 12, 1921)

• 

  Flag of Wisconsin
  (May 1, 1981)

• 

  Flag of California
  (1953)

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  Flag of Minnesota
  (August 2, 1983)

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  Flag of Oregon
  (April 15, 1925)

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  Flag of Kansas
  (September 22, 1961)

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  Flag of West Virginia
  (November 6, 1929)

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  Flag of Nevada
  (July 25, 1991)

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  Flag of Nebraska
  (July 16, 1963)

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  Flag of Colorado
  (March 31, 1964)

• 

  Flag of North Dakota
  (March 11, 1911)

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  Flag of South Dakota
  (November 9, 1992)

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  Flag of Montana
  (July 1, 1981)

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  Flag of Washington
  (March 5, 1923)

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  Flag of Idaho
  (November 2, 1957)

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  Flag of Wyoming
  (March 4, 1917)

• 

  Flag of Utah
  (1913 and February 16, 2011)

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  Flag of Oklahoma
  (April 2, 1925; formally November 1, 2006)

• 

  Flag of New Mexico
  (September 18, 1920)

• 

  Flag of Arizona
  (January 25, 1917)

• 

  Flag of Alaska
  (July 6, 1927)

• 

  Flag of Hawaii
  (December 29, 1845)

Other state flag

• 

  Utah Commemorative Flag

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. Dates in parenthesis denote when the territory's current flag was adopted by its respective political body.

Current state ensigns

Maine and Massachusetts have ensigns for use at sea.

Historical state and territory flags

Former state flags

Former territory flags

American Civil War

Texan Revolution

Other

Native American flags

Native Americans have tribal sovereignty, with Indian nations having jurisdiction over their members and Indian reservations. Although reservations are on state land, the laws of the state(s) do not necessarily apply on tribal land. Below are the flags of some of the largest Indian tribes reservations by population and area:

Unofficial flags of atolls, reefs, and other 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 the insular areas in the U.S. Minor Outlying Islands:

See also

In Spanish: Anexo:Banderas de los Estados Unidos de América para niños

• Flag of the United States
• List of U.S. state, district, and territorial insignia

Images for kids

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  Flag of Indiana (1903–1917)

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  Flag of Nebraska (1917 – April 2, 1925)

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  Flag of Oregon (1900–1925)