State Flags
Design, symbolism, and history behind every U.S. state flag.
20 Articles
Which Flags Look Like the U.S. Flag?
Liberia, Malaysia, Bikini Atoll, Uruguay, Togo, Cuba, and Puerto Rico share stripes, stars, or a canton with the U.S. flag.
What the Colors of the U.S. Flag Mean
Red, white, and blue got official meanings from the 1782 Great Seal description, not the 1777 flag law.
Which State Flags Have the Most Stars?
Missouri's flag has 24 stars, Indiana has 19, and Alaska has 8. This guide compares the main multi-star, one-star, and no-star state flags.
State Flags That Are Just a Seal on Blue
Sixteen state flags use a seal on a blue field, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Nebraska.
Which State Flags Look Like Country Flags?
Texas resembles Chile, Iowa echoes France, Hawaii carries the Union Jack, and Puerto Rico mirrors Cuba.
Which State Flags Have Blue Backgrounds?
Twenty-seven U.S. state flags use a blue background, including Alaska, Indiana, New York, and Wisconsin.
Which State Flags Have Eagles?
Nine state flags include bald eagles, from Iowa's flying eagle to Wyoming's tiny seal eagle on the bison.
Which State Flags Have Animals?
California's extinct grizzly, Wyoming's bison, Louisiana's pelican, and Oregon's reverse-side beaver show how animals appear on flags.
Which US State Flags Have Bears on Them?
Only California and Missouri put bears on their state flags: one extinct grizzly dominates the flag, while Missouri's bears sit inside the seal.
Which US States Have Birds on Their Flags?
Ten state flags include a bird, including Louisiana's pelican and bald eagles on Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, and other seals.
Which State Flags Have Latin Mottos?
Nine state flags show a Latin motto, including Virginia's Sic Semper Tyrannis and Michigan's long three-part inscription.
Which State Flags Have One Star?
Texas, California, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota, and Utah each put one prominent star at the center of their flag story.
Which State Flags Have Human Figures?
Eight state flags show human figures, including Virginia's Virtus, Massachusetts's Native American, and New York's Liberty and Justice.
Which State Flags Have Plants and Trees?
Six state flags show a plant or tree, including South Carolina's palmetto, Connecticut's grapevine, and Mississippi's magnolia.
State Flags with Ships and Boats
Five state flags show a ship or boat, including Oregon's American ship and Pennsylvania's vessel inside the shield.
Which State Flags Have Stars?
Alaska has 8 stars, Texas has 1, Indiana has 19, and Tennessee has 3. This guide compares state flags that use stars.
Which State Flags Have Sun Symbols?
New Mexico uses the Zia sun, Arizona has 13 sun rays, and South Dakota shows a gold sunburst.
Which State Flags Have Weapons and Tools?
Seven state flags show a weapon or tool, including Virginia's spear and sword, Massachusetts's bow, and South Carolina's gorget.
Texas vs Chile Flag: Are They the Same?
Texas uses a full-height blue stripe; Chile uses a blue canton. That one layout difference solves the common flag mix-up.
U.S. Peace Flag vs. War Flag: What's Official and What Isn't
The U.S. Flag Code recognizes one national flag, not separate peace, civil, or war flags. The vertical-stripe claim is unofficial.
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