The flags of the U.S. states exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories. Each flag represents individual state identities through unique symbols, colors, and historical references.
Many feature state seals or coats of arms on simple backgrounds, often blue. Designs reflect state heritage, natural resources, or important events.
Some, like New Mexico’s and Maryland’s, are highly distinctive and symbolic. Collectively, they showcase the cultural and historical diversity of the United States.
Learn more about the history and designs of our State Flags.
Click on any State Flag and visit that Flag’s Wikipedia page.
State Flags
The 50 State Flags
The flags of the 50 U.S. states are more than colorful banners—they are symbols of history, identity, and regional pride. Each flag tells a unique story through its colors, symbols, and design elements.
While the U.S. national flag is well-known around the world, state flags often reflect more specific and local histories, shaped by geography, politics, and cultural influences.
Most state flags were adopted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a large wave of flag creations happening around the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Many states, prompted by the idea of showcasing their identity at national exhibitions, began adopting official flags during this time. The designs were often influenced by European heraldry, featuring coats of arms, state seals, and patriotic colors.
A majority of state flags include a blue field (background), a color often associated with loyalty, justice, and perseverance. These “seal on a blue field” designs—such as those of Pennsylvania, New York, and Wisconsin—have been criticized for their lack of distinctiveness. Despite that, the blue color also connects many flags to the Union and the values of the American republic.
Red, white, and blue—colors of the U.S. national flag—appear in many state flags and often carry similar meanings: red for bravery or strength, white for purity and peace, and blue for vigilance and justice.
Other colors and symbols reflect local elements. For example, Arizona’s flag features a red and gold sunburst, symbolizing the Western setting sun and the Spanish heritage of the region. New Mexico’s flag uses a red Zia sun symbol on a yellow background, representing Native American culture and the Spanish colonial past.
Over time, some states have revised their flags to better reflect modern values or correct historical inaccuracies. In 2020, Mississippi retired its flag containing the Confederate battle emblem—a design criticized for its ties to racism and segregation.
After a public design process, Mississippi adopted a new flag in 2021 featuring a magnolia blossom, stars, and the words “In God We Trust.”
The creation and revision of state flags reflect both the evolving identity of each state and the broader national conversation about representation, inclusion, and history. Each of the 50 state flags tells a piece of the American story—from the colonial era and the Civil War to westward expansion and modern political change.
In essence, U.S. state flags are not just visual emblems. They are dynamic symbols that embody the geography, people, and values of the states they represent. As times change, so too do the flags—honoring heritage while making space for progress and unity in an ever-diverse nation.