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This is a list of flags in the United States describing the evolution of the flag of the United States, as well as other flags used within the United States, such as the flags of governmental agencies. There are also separate flags for embassies and ships.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/US_historical_flags-United_States_of_America.jpg/305px-US_historical_flags-United_States_of_America.jpg)
National flags
editHistorical progression of designs
editSince 1818, a star for each new state has been added to the flag on the Fourth of July the year immediately following each state's admission. In years in which multiple states have been admitted, the corresponding number of stars were added to the flag. 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, many of the historical U.S. national flags (shown below) have had varied arrangements of the stars.[1]
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1776–1777 (the "Grand Union Flag")
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Betsy Ross circular 13-star version (1792) *other
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"Hopkinson" version (1777–1795) *other
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Battle of Bennington version (1777) *other
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1795–1818 (the "Star-Spangled Banner", 15 stars, 15 stripes)
Other historical versions
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Betsy Ross circular 13-star version (1792)
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"Hopkinson" version (1777–1795)
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Battle of Bennington version (1777)
Executive branch flags
editOffice of the President
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Flag of the Executive Office of the President
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Flag of the Trade Representative
Office of the Vice President
editDepartment of State
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Flag of the Department of State
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Flag of the Secretary of State
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of State
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Flag of United States ambassadors
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Flag of a Consular officer
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Flag of a Foreign Service officer
Department of the Treasury
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Flag of the Secretary of the Treasury
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury
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Flag of an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
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Flag of an Under Secretary of the Treasury
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Flag of the Comptroller of the Currency
Department of Defense
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Flag of the Secretary of Defense
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Defense
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Flag of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense
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Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Defense
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Flag of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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Flag of the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
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Flag of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
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Flag of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe
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Flag of the Defense Commissary Agency
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Flag of the Defense Innovation Unit
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Flag of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
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Flag of the National Reconnaissance Office
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Flag of the National Security Agency
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Flag of the United States Central Command
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Flag of the United States Space Command
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Flag of the United States Southern Command
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Flag of the United States Forces Korea
Department of the Army
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Flag of the Secretary of the Army
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Flag of the Under Secretary of the Army
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Flag of an Assistant Secretary of the Army
Army
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Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Army
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Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army
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Flag of the Sergeant Major of the Army
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Flag of the Chief of the United States Army Reserve
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Flag of the Surgeon General of the Army
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Flag of the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army
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Flag of the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
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Flag of the United States Army Provost Marshal General
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Flag of the Inspector General of the United States Army
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Flag of the United States Army Combined Arms Center
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Flag of the United States Army Infantry School
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Flag of the United States Army Air Defense Artillery School
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Flag of the United States Army Adjutant General School
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Flag of the United States Army Chaplain School
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Flag of the United States Army Adjutant General's Corps
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Flag of the United States Army Chaplain Corps
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Flag of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
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Flag of the United States Army Combined Arms Support Command
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Flag of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command
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Flag of a General of the Army
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Flag of the First Army
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Flag of the Second Army
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Flag of Army Central
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Flag of the Fourth Army
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Flag of Army North
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Flag of the Sixth Army
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Flag of the Seventh Army
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Flag of the Eighth Army
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Flag of the I Corps
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Flag of the XVIII Airborne Corps
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Flag of the 1st Armored Division
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Flag of the 2nd Armored Division
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Flag of the 3rd Armored Division
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Flag of the 1st Cavalry Division
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Flag of the 1st Infantry Division
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Flag of the 2nd Infantry Division
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Flag of the 3rd Infantry Division
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Flag of the 10th Mountain Division
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Flag of the 25th Infantry Division
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Flag of the 28th Infantry Division
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Flag of the 29th Infantry Division
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Flag of the 36th Infantry Division
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Flag of the 40th Infantry Division
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Flag of the 42nd Military Police Brigade
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Flag of the 82nd Airborne Division
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Flag of the 101st Airborne Division
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Flag of the 297th Military Intelligence Battalion
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Flag of the 309th Military Intelligence Battalion
Department of the Navy
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Flag of the Secretary of the Navy
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Flag of the Under Secretary of the Navy
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Flag of an Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Navy
editFlag of the Chief of Naval Operations
Flag of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Flag of the Navy fleet admiral
Flag of an unrestricted line (URL) Navy admiral (staff corps flag officers have white flags with the appropriate number of blue stars in an identical pattern as URL admiral's flags).
Flag of an URL Navy vice admiral
Flag of an URL Navy rear admiral
Flag of an URL Navy rear admiral (lower half)
Flag of Military Sealift Command
Marine Corps
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Flag of the Commandant of the Marine Corps
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Flag of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment
Department of the Air Force
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Flag of the Secretary of the Air Force
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Flag of the Under Secretary of the Air Force
Air Force
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Flag of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force
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Flag of the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
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Flag of a General of the Air Force
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Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
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Flag of the Air Force Chaplain Corps
Space Force
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Flag of Space Operations Command
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Flag of Space Systems Command
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Flag of the Chief of Space Operations
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Flag of the Vice Chief of Space Operations
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Flag of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force
National Guard Bureau
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Flag of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau
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Flag of the Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau
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Flag of the Air National Guard
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Flag of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry
Civil Air Patrol
editThe Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It has quasi-military organizational and rank structures modeled on those of the Air Force.[2]
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Flag of the Civil Air Patrol
Department of Justice
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Flag of the Department of Justice
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Flag of the Attorney General
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Flag of the Associate Attorney General
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Flag of the Solicitor General
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Flag of an Assistant Attorney General
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Flag of a United States Attorney
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Flag of the Drug Enforcement Administration
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Flag of the Marshals Service
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Flag of the Federal Bureau of Prisons
Department of the Interior
editFlag of the Department of the Interior
Flag of the Secretary of the Interior
Flag of the Deputy Secretary of the Interior
Flag of the National Park Service
Guidon of the National Park Service
Flag of the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Flag of the Fish and Wildlife Service
Flag of the Bureau of Land Management
Flag of the Geological Survey
Department of Agriculture
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Flag of the Department of Agriculture
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Flag of the Secretary of Agriculture
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Flag of the Forest Service
Department of Commerce
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Flag of the Department of Commerce
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Flag of the Secretary of Commerce
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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Flag of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
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Flag of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps
rear admiral (lower half)
Department of Labor
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Flag of the Department of Labor
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Flag of the Secretary of Labor
Department of Health and Human Services
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Flag of the Department of Health and Human Services
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Flag of the Secretary of Health and Human Services
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Flag of the United States Public Health Service
Department of Housing and Urban Development
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Flag of the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Transportation
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Flag of the Department of Transportation
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Flag of the Secretary of Transportation
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Transportation
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Flag of an Assistant Secretary of Transportation
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Flag of the Federal Aviation Administration
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Flag of the Maritime Administration
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Flag of the United States Merchant Marine
Department of Energy
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Flag of the Department of Energy
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Flag of the Secretary of Energy
Department of Education
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Flag of the Department of Education
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Flag of the Secretary of Education
Department of Veterans Affairs
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Flag of the Department of Veterans Affairs
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Flag of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs
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Flag of the United States Under Secretaries of Veterans Affairs for Health, Benefits, and Memorial Affairs
Department of Homeland Security
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Flag of the Department of Homeland Security
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Flag of the Secretary of Homeland Security
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Flag of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
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Flag of Customs and Border Protection
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Flag of the CBP Office of Field Operations
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Flag of the CBP Air and Marine Operations
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Flag of the Border Patrol
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Flag of the Secret Service
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Flag of the Federal Protective Service
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Flag of the Transportation Security Administration
Coast Guard
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Guidon of the Coast Guard
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Flag of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
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Flag of the Commandant of the Coast Guard
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Flag of the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
Legislative branch flags
editCongress
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Flag of the Senate
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Flag of the House of Representatives
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Flag of the Capitol Police
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Flag of the Library of Congress
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Flag of the Government Accountability Office
Other federal flags
editMany 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.
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Flag of the Agency for International Development
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Flag of the Central Intelligence Agency
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Flag of the Environmental Protection Agency
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Flag of the Federal Reserve System
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Flag of the Federal Trade Commission
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Flag of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Flag of the National League of Families POW/MIA
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Flag of the National Science Foundation
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Flag of the Peace Corps
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Flag of the Securities and Exchange Commission
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Flag of the Senior Executive Service
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Flag of the Smithsonian Institution
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Flag of the Social Security Administration
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Flag of the Tennessee Valley Authority
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Flag of the United States Intelligence Community
State and territory flags
edit
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, which remains a source of criticism from vexillologists.
The most recent current state flag is that of Minnesota (May 11, 2024), while the most recent current territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands (July 1, 1985).
History
editModern 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.[3]
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.[4] (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
editDates in parentheses denote when the current flag was adopted by the state's legislature.
Flag of California
(February 3, 1911)Flag of Connecticut
(September 9, 1897)Flag of Massachusetts
(July 3, 1971)Flag of Mississippi
(January 11, 2021)Flag of New Hampshire
(1931)Flag of New Jersey
(May 11, 1896)Flag of New Mexico
(March 15, 1925)Flag of North Carolina
(March 9, 1885)[7]Flag of North Dakota
(March 11, 1911)Flag of Pennsylvania
(June 13, 1907)Flag of Rhode Island
(November 1, 1897)Flag of South Carolina
(January 26, 1861)Flag of South Dakota
(November 9, 1992)Flag of Washington
(March 5, 1923)Flag of West Virginia
(March 7, 1929)
Current federal district flag
editCurrent inhabited territory flags
editCounty flags
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Flag of Alameda County, California
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Flag of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
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Flag of Clark County, Nevada
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Flag of Collin County, Texas
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Flag of Cuyahoga County, Ohio
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Flag of Dallas County, Texas
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Flag of Fairfax County, Virginia
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Flag of Franklin County, Ohio
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Flag of Fulton County, Georgia
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Flag of Gwinnett County, Georgia
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Flag of Hennepin County, Minnesota
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Flag of Hillsborough County, Florida
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Flag of Los Angeles County, California
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Flag of Maricopa County, Arizona
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Flag of Miami-Dade County, Florida
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Flag of Oakland County, Michigan
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Flag of Orange County, California
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Flag of Orange County, Florida
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Flag of Palm Beach County, Florida
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Flag of Riverside County, California
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Flag of Sacramento County, California
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Flag of St. Louis County, Missouri
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Flag of San Diego County, California
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Flag of Santa Clara County, California
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Flag of Tarrant County, Texas
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Flag of Travis County, Texas
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Flag of Wayne County, Michigan
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Flag of Westchester County, New York
City flags
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Flag of Albuquerque
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Flag of Atlanta
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Flag of Cincinnati
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Flag of Des Moines
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Flag of Fresno
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Flag of Honolulu
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Flag of Indianapolis
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Flag of Jacksonville
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Flag of Kansas City
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Flag of Los Angeles
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Flag of Louisville
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Flag of Minneapolis
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Flag of New Orleans
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Flag of Oakland
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Flag of Oklahoma City
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Flag of Omaha
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Flag of Philadelphia
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Flag of Pittsburgh
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Flag of Raleigh
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Flag of Sacramento
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Flag of San Antonio
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Flag of San Juan
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Flag of Virginia Beach
Maritime flags
editEnsigns
editNational
editSince 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.
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Ensign of the United States (1960–present)
States
editOther
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Ensign of the Coast Guard
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Ensign of the Power Squadrons
Jacks
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Union Jack (state jack, 2002–present; naval and state jack, 1960–2002, 2019–present)
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First Navy Jack (naval jack for all warships 1975–1976 & 2002–2019; for oldest commissioned warship 1980–present)
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Naval Jack (circa 1776)
Distinctive marks
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Distinctive mark of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Commissioning pennants
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Commissioning pennant of the United States Navy
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Commissioning pennant of the United States Coast Guard
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Commissioning pennant of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Class I vessels
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Commissioning pennant of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Class II, III, and IV vessels
Native American tribal flags
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Flag of the Arapaho
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Flag of the Cahto Tribe
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Flag of the Cherokee Nation
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Flag of the Chilkat Indian Village (Klukwan)
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Flag of the Choctaw Nation
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Flag of the Comanche Nation
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Flag of the Crow Nation
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Flag of the Hopi Nation
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Flag of the Iroquois Confederacy
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Flag of the Ketchikan Indian Community
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Flag of the Mohegan Tribe
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Flag of the Navajo Nation
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Flag of the Ninilchik Village Tribe
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Flag of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe
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Flag of the Oglala Sioux Tribe (Pine Ridge Indian Reservation)
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Flag of the Organized Village of Kake
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Flag of the Pawnee Nation
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Flag of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians
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Flag of the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa
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Flag of the Seminole Tribe of Florida
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Flag of the Tohono O'odham Nation
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Flag of the Yupiit of Andreafski
Associated state flags
editWhile the countries mentioned are recognized independent nations with United Nations seats, the United States maintains and exercises jurisdictional control over the countries in defense, security, and funding grants.
Historical flags
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2008) |
Thirteen Colonies
editAmerican Revolutionary War
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Bedford Flag (1775)
Former federal flags
editFlag of the President (1882)
Flag of the President (1899)
Flag of the President (1902)
Flag of the President (1916)
Flag of the President (1945)
Flag of the Vice President (1915)
Flag of the Vice President (1936)
Flag of the Vice President (1948)
Flag of the Environmental Science Services Administration (1965–1970)
Flag of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (until 2003)
Flag of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (until 2003)
Flag of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Flag of the Department of the Interior (until 1917)
Flag of the General Services Administration (1972–1973)
Flag of the General Services Administration (1973–1989)
Flag of the Secretary of the Interior (1917–1934)
Infantry Battalion flag (de facto flag of the U.S. Navy until 1959)
Flag of the Secretary of Labor (1915–1960)
Flag of the Department of Labor (1915–1960)
Flag of the Secretary of the Treasury (1887–1915)
Flag of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Flag of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
Flag of the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service
Flag of the Marine Hospital Service
Flag of the Bureau of Navigation (?–1946)
Flag of the Director of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (?–1946)
Ensign of the Revenue-Marine (1799)
Ensign of the Revenue-Marine (1815)
Ensign of the Revenue-Marine (1836)
Ensign of the Revenue-Marine (1841)
Ensign of the Revenue-Marine (1867)
Ensign of the Revenue-Marine (1868)
Ensign of the Coast Guard (1915–1953)
Flag of the Coast Guard Auxiliary (1940–1968)
Flag of the Office of Homeland Security (2001–2002)
Flag of the Director of Central Intelligence
Flag of the National Imagery and Mapping Agency
Flag of U.S. Forces – Iraq (2010–2011)
Flag of the United States Bureau of Fisheries (?–1940)
Flag of the Commissioner of Fisheries (?–1940)
Flag of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (1899–1970)
Commissioning pennant of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for Class I vessels ( ? –1970)
Commissioning pennant of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey for Class II, III, and IV vessels ( ? –1970)
Pennant of the
United States Life-Saving Service
(?–1915)Pennant of the United States Lighthouse Service
(?–1939)Flag of the Commissioner of Lighthouses
(?–1939)Flag of the Superintendent of Lighthouses
(?–1939)Flag of the Marine Corps
(1914–1939)Flag of the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army
Flag of the United States Army Adjutant General's Corps
Flag of the United States Army Chaplain Corps (1983-1993)
Flag of the 140th Military Intelligence Battalion
Fort Sumter Flag (1861)
Flag of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (1998-2008)
Flag of the Department of Transportation (1967–1980)
Other states
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Flag of the Green Mountain Boys, the Vermont Republic (1777–1791), and the state of Vermont (1791–1804)
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Texas Come and Take It flag
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J.P Gillis Flag (California)
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Alamo flag (Texas)
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Flag of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment
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Flag of the 8th California Infantry Regiment
Former territories and administered areas
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Flag of the United States of America". The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
- ^ "Civil Air Patrol". AF.mil. United States Air Force. January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on December 3, 2010.
- ^ Artimovich, Nick. "Questions & Answers". North American Vexillological Association. p. 8. Archived from the original on April 17, 2007. Retrieved March 20, 2007.
- ^ Kaye, Ted (June 10, 2001). "NEW MEXICO TOPS STATE/PROVINCIAL FLAGS SURVEY, GEORGIA LOSES BY WIDE MARGIN". North American Vexillological Association. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2007.
- ^ "State Flag of Alabama". Alabama Emblems, Symbols and Honors. Alabama Department of Archives & History. April 27, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
- ^ Anderson, Ed (November 22, 2010). "New Louisiana state flag with bleeding pelican is unfurled". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2010.
- ^ "Official State Symbols of North Carolina". North Carolina State Library. State of North Carolina. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2008.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Text states that Oregon adopted its flag in 1925
- ^ Dan Bammes (February 17, 2011). "Legislature: Fixing the Flag". KUER-FM. Retrieved February 17, 2011.
- ^ 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.)
- ^ 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.
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External links
edit- The History of U.S. Flags (YouTube) (Slideshow on U.S. National Flags Historical Progression)
- History of the flags (in Russian)
- United States Minor Outlying Islands at Flags of the World