List of flags of the United States

A 2.00m x 1.70m oil painting showing historical U.S. flags from 1776 to 1795.

This article describes the evolution of the flag of the United States of America, as well as other flags used within the country, such as the flags of governmental agencies. There are also separate flags for embassies and boats.

National flag

Main article: Flag of the United States

Historical progression of designs

Since 1818, a star for each new state has been added to the flag on the Fourth of July immediately following each state's admission. In years which multiple states were admitted, the number of stars on the flag jumped correspondingly; the most pronounced example of this is 1890, when five states were admitted within the span of a single year (North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington in November 1889 and Idaho on July 3, 1890). This change has typically been the only change made with each revision of the flag since 1777, with the exception of changes in 1795 and 1818, which increased the number of stripes to 15 and then returned it to 13, respectively.

As the exact pattern of stars was not specified prior to 1912, and the exact colors not specified prior to 1934, many of the historical U.S. national flags shown below are typical rather than official designs.

Other federal flags

Many agencies, departments, and offices of the U.S. federal government have their own flags, guidons, or standards. Following traditional American vexillology, these usually consist of the agency's departmental seal on a blank opaque background, but not always. Template:Begin flag gallery Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:End flag gallery

Uniformed services flags

Main article: Flags of the United States Armed Forces

State flags

Main article: Flags of the U.S. states

Every U.S. state also have flags of their own. As examples, here are the six highest-rated U.S. state flags in terms of design quality, according to a 2001 survey by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA).

Insular area flags

The U.S. national flag is the official flag for all islands, atolls, and reefs comprising the United States Minor Outlying Islands. However, unofficial flags are in use on five of these eleven insular areas:

County flags

Main article: Flags of counties of the United States

Many U.S. counties also have flags of their own. As examples, here are eight county flags from various U.S. states. Template:Begin flag gallery Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:End flag gallery

City flags

Main article: Flags of cities of the United States

In 2004, NAVA conducted a survey to rank 150 U.S. city flags in terms of design quality. Here are the top 8 city flags as ranked and their mean ratings on the survey's 10-point scale: Template:Begin flag gallery Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:End flag gallery

Maritime flags

Ensigns

Main article: Ensign of the United States

National

Since 1777, the national ensign of the United States has also simultaneously served as its national flag. The current version is shown below; for previous versions, please see the section Historical progression of designs above. Template:Begin flag gallery Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:End flag gallery

Other

Jacks

Main article: Jack of the United States

Native American tribal flags

Further information: Flags of Native Americans in the United States on Wikimedia Commons

Historic flags

Other states

See also: Flags of the Confederate States of America

See also

• Flag Day in the United States
• Flag desecration in the United States
• Flags of cities of the United States
• Flags of counties of the United States
• North American Vexillological Association
• United States Flag Code

External links

• The History of U.S. Flags (YouTube) (Slideshow on U.S. National Flags Historical Progression)
• United States Minor Outlying Islands at Flags of the World