The flags of the U.S.states, territories, and the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Modern U.S. state flags date from the turn of the 20th century, when states considered distinctive symbols for the 1893 World's Columbian ExpositioninChicago, Illinois. Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 and World War I.[1]
The most recently adopted state flag is that of Minnesota, adopted on May 11, 2024; while the most recently adopted territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands, adopted on July 1, 1985. The flag of the District of Columbia was adopted in 1938. Recent legislation in Massachusetts (2021) has started the process of redesigning their state flag. Illinois legislature will start the redesign process in September 2024. Maine and Michigan also have plans to redesign their flags in the future, but these have not been confirmed.[citation needed]
Despite a variety of designs, 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, which remains a source of criticism from vexillologists. 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 (the latter of which has been changed since the survey was conducted).[2]
These are the current official flags of the five permanently inhabited territories of the United States. Dates in parentheses denote when the territory's current flag was adopted by its respective political body.[citation needed]
Many Native American nations have tribal sovereignty, with jurisdiction over their members and reserved land. Although reservations are on state land, the laws of the state(s) do not necessarily apply.[24] Below are the flags of some of the largest Indian tribes reservations by population and area:
Unofficial flags of atolls, reefs, and other islands[edit]
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:
^Commonwealth of Virginia (February 1, 1950). "§ 1-506. Flag of the Commonwealth". Code of Virginia. Virginia: Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved January 28, 2015. The flag of the Commonwealth shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there may be a white fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of the Commonwealth. (Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-32; 2005, c. 839.)
^ abc"State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. April 27, 2006. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
^State of Wisconsin. "286". Section: 1.08: State flag. Retrieved August 21, 2015. The department of administration shall ensure that all official state flags that are manufactured on or after May 1, 1981, conform to the requirements of this section. State flags manufactured before May 1, 1981, may continue to be used as state flags.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^"Oregon Almanac Topics - Dance to Hops - Flag, State". Retrieved June 29, 2020. Oregon is the only state whose flag has different patterns on each side. The design for the Oregon flag was adopted by the legislature in 1925.
^"The Oklahoma State Flag". NetState. NState, LLC. February 6, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2015. Colors shall be colorfast and shall not bleed one into another. Added by Laws 1925, c. 234, p. 340, § 1. Amended by Laws 1941, p. 90, § 1; Laws 2006, c. 181, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006.
^"Enrolled Senate Bill No. 1359". Oklahoma State Courts Network. May 23, 2006. Retrieved January 26, 2015. This act shall become effective November 1, 2006.
^ abFlorida Constitution Revision Commission (August 4, 2005). "Amendments, Election of 11-6-1900". The Florida State University. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
^[1]Archived 2014-08-12 at the Wayback Machine While this flag was officially adopted by Louisiana in 1861 there is no indication that it actually flew over state buildings up to 1912. In that year (1912) the blue pelican flag was officially adopted after nearly 100 years of unofficial use.
![Flag of Florida (May 6, 1868 – November 6, 1900)[16]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Florida_%25281868%25E2%2580%25931900%2529.svg)
![Flag of Florida (November 6, 1900 – May 21, 1985)[16]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Florida_%25281900%25E2%2580%25931985%2529.svg)
![Flag of Indiana (1903 – May 17, 1917)[17]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Indiana_%281899%E2%80%931917%29.png)
![Flag of Louisiana (February 11, 1861 – 1912)[18]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Louisiana_%2528February_1861%2529.svg)
![Flag of Massachusetts (April 29, 1776 – March 18, 1908)[19]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:An_Appeal_to_Heaven_Flag.svg)
![Flag of New Jersey (May 1, 1896 – 1965)[20]](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_New_Jersey_%281896%E2%80%931965%29.png)
![Flag of New Mexico (January 1, 1915 – March 14, 1925, unofficial)[21][22]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_New_Mexico_%25281912%25E2%2580%25931925%2529.svg)
![Flag of Utah (February 16, 2011 – March 9, 2024)[23]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Utah_%25282011%25E2%2580%25932024%2529.svg)
![Flag of Alabama (November 7, 1861 – November 12, 1865, obverse)[8]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Alabama_%25281861%252C_obverse%2529.svg)
![Flag of Alabama (November 7, 1861 – November 12, 1865, reverse)[8]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Alabama_%25281861%252C_reverse%2529.svg)
![Wake Island [26]](https://akarinohon.com/text/taketori.cgi/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Wake_Island.svg)
