List of flags of the United States

A 2.00 m × 1.70 m oil painting showing historical U.S. flags.

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 flags

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.

Possible future designs

With the addition of states, the U.S. flag increases the number of stars. Examples of possible designs for U.S. flags with up to 5 additional states are displayed here. 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

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: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:Flag entry Template:New flag row Template:Flag entry 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

Map showing the U.S. state flags of the 50 states

The flags of the U.S. states, territories and federal district 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 every different shade of blue.

The most recent current state flag is that of Utah (February 16, 2011), while the most recent current territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands (July 1, 1985).

History

Modern U.S. state flags date from the 1890s, 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

Dates in parentheses denote when the current flag was adopted by the state's legislature. 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: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: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

Territorial and commonwealth flags

Uninhabited territory flags

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 in use on five of these nine insular areas:

Associated state flags

While the countries mentioned are recognized independent nations with UN seats, the U.S. maintains and exercises jurisdictional control over the countries in defense, security, and funding grants. Template:Begin flag gallery Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:Flag entry Template:End flag gallery

County flags

Main article: Flags of counties of the United States

City flags

Main article: Flags of cities of the United States

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

Historical 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
• Flags of the U.S. 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)
• History of the flagsTemplate:Ru icon
• United States Minor Outlying Islands at Flags of the World