US State Flags with One Star: All 7 States
US State Flags with One Star: All 7 States
Collection - Flags
The Texas Lone Star flag is the most recognizable single-star flag in the world. Adopted in 1839 when Texas was still an independent republic, it predates Texas statehood by six years.
Quick Answer
What matters most
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Exactly 7 US state flags feature a prominent single star as a primary design element: Texas, California, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota (2024), and Utah (2024).
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Texas is the most famous single-star flag — the white Lone Star has represented Texas independence since 1836, two years before the state joined the Union.
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The two newest single-star flags are Minnesota and Utah, both redesigned in 2024. Both moved away from complex seal-on-blue designs toward clean, geometric layouts centered on a single star.
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Several other state flags contain one star buried within a state seal, but the star is not a primary visual element — these are not classified as single-star flags by vexillologists.
US State Flags with One Star: All 7 States
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Flag
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Star
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State
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Star Color & Type
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What It Represents
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Position on Flag
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Flag Adopted
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Texas
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White, 5-pointed | Independence — the Lone Star represents Texas as a sovereign state, both as a republic and in the Union | Centered on the blue vertical stripe | 1839 |
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California
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Red, 5-pointed | Revolution — echoes the lone star of the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt and the spirit of the California Republic | Upper-left canton, above the grizzly bear | 1911 |
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North Carolina
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White, 5-pointed | State identity — the star flanked by 'N' and 'C' anchors the flag's visual focus on the state's initial and founding pride | Centered on the blue vertical stripe between the letters N and C | 1885 |
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Arizona
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Copper, 5-pointed | Copper mining industry — Arizona is the largest copper-producing state in the US; the copper star represents its defining economic resource | Centered on the flag at the junction of the rays and blue field | 1917 |
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Nevada
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Silver, 5-pointed | Silver mining heritage — Nevada's nickname 'The Silver State' reflects the silver ore that drove its territorial economy and statehood | Upper-left corner within a wreath of sagebrush sprays | 1929 |
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Minnesota
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White, 8-pointed | L'Étoile du Nord (The North Star) — Minnesota's state motto since 1858, represented in an eight-pointed design echoing Ojibwe star quilt patterns | Center-left, overlapping a dark blue abstract shape on a lighter blue field | 2024 |
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Utah
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White, 5-pointed | 45th state — Utah was the 45th state admitted to the Union in 1896; the star marks that founding order | Directly below the golden beehive, at the center of the flag | 2024 |
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Interactive Map: The 7 States with a Single Star
The seven single-star state flags are spread across the West, Midwest, and Southeast, with Texas and California as the oldest high-recognition examples.
"A single-star flag works only when the star is large enough to read at distance and tied to a clear design role, as in Texas, Arizona, Minnesota, and Utah."
The Classic Lone Star Flags
The term 'Lone Star flag' officially belongs to Texas — but the concept of a single star declaring independence, sovereignty, or founding pride appears on three state flags with deep historical roots: Texas, California, and North Carolina.
Texas: The Lone Star State
The Texas state flag places a single large white five-pointed star at the center of a blue vertical stripe, with white and red horizontal stripes to the right. The flag was adopted in 1839, when Texas was still an independent republic, and became the state flag upon annexation in 1845. Standardized in 2001, the Texas Lone Star flag history and meaning remains the oldest current single-star state flag.
California: The 1846 Red Star
California's single red five-pointed star sits in the upper-left canton of the Bear Flag — above the grizzly bear and to the left of the 'CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC' text. The red star traces to the Bear Flag Revolt of June 14, 1846, when American settlers in Sonoma raised a handmade flag with a star and a grizzly bear to declare the short-lived California Republic. California officially adopted the Bear Flag in 1911 and standardized it in 1953.
North Carolina: The 'NC' Star
North Carolina's flag features a single white five-pointed star centered on the blue vertical stripe, flanked by the gold letters 'N' and 'C'. The date 'May 20, 1775' arcs above, and 'April 12, 1776' arcs below. The star-between-initials design was finalized in 1885.
Timeline
Texas declares independence from Mexico and adopts a flag with a single gold star for the Republic of Texas. The lone star becomes the defining symbol of Texas identity, two years before the current white-star design.
Texas declares independence from Mexico and adopts a flag with a single gold star for the Republic of Texas. The lone star becomes the defining symbol of Texas identity, two years before the current white-star design.
Texas officially adopts the current Lone Star flag — a white five-pointed star on a blue vertical stripe, with red and white horizontal stripes. The flag serves the Republic of Texas until annexation in 1845.
The Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma, California. Settlers raise a flag bearing a red five-pointed star in the upper left canton — the direct ancestor of the star still on California's flag today.
The Bear Flag Revolt in Sonoma, California. Settlers raise a flag bearing a red five-pointed star in the upper left canton — the direct ancestor of the star still on California's flag today.
North Carolina adopts a flag with a single white star flanked by the letters 'N' and 'C' on a blue vertical stripe. The design is refined to its current form in 1885.
North Carolina finalizes its current flag design, with a single white star centered between 'N' and 'C' on the blue stripe.
North Carolina finalizes its current flag design, with a single white star centered between 'N' and 'C' on the blue stripe.
Colonel Charles W. Harris designs the Arizona flag for the Arizona Rifle Team at a shooting competition — centered on a copper star honoring Arizona's copper-mining economy, which dominated its territorial period.
California officially adopts the Bear Flag with its red five-pointed star in the upper-left canton, standardized in 1953.
California officially adopts the Bear Flag with its red five-pointed star in the upper-left canton, standardized in 1953.
Arizona officially adopts its state flag with the copper star at center, surrounded by thirteen alternating red and gold rays representing the original colonies and the setting sun.
Nevada adopts its state flag with a silver five-pointed star in the upper-left corner, framed by sagebrush sprays and the words 'Battle Born.' Standardized in 1991.
Nevada adopts its state flag with a silver five-pointed star in the upper-left corner, framed by sagebrush sprays and the words 'Battle Born.' Standardized in 1991.
Minnesota (May 2024) and Utah (March 2024) both adopt redesigned flags featuring a single prominent star — Minnesota's eight-pointed North Star and Utah's five-pointed star beneath the beehive. Both states join the single-star club in the same year.
Stars Representing State Nicknames & Industry
Arizona and Nevada use star color to point to mineral history: copper for Arizona and silver for Nevada.
Arizona: The Copper Star
Arizona's flag has thirteen rays of alternating red and gold across the upper half, with a blue lower half beneath them. At the center, where the rays meet the blue field, sits a single copper-colored five-pointed star. Copper refers to Arizona's copper industry. Colonel Charles W. Harris designed the flag in 1910 for the Arizona Rifle Team, and the legislature adopted it in 1917.
Nevada: The Silver Star
Nevada's flag features a silver five-pointed star in the upper-left corner, framed by sagebrush sprays and the words 'Battle Born'. The motto refers to Nevada's 1864 Civil War statehood. The silver star points to the 'Silver State' nickname and the Comstock Lode, discovered in 1859. The Nevada flag history explains why the star sits in the canton.
US state flags feature a prominent single star as a primary design element — from the 1839 Texas Lone Star to the 2024 Utah beehive star.
The Newest Single-Star Flags: 2024 Redesigns
In 2024, Minnesota and Utah both replaced seal-based flags with new designs that include a single prominent star. Utah's flag became official in March; Minnesota's in May.
Minnesota: The Eight-Pointed North Star
Minnesota adopted its redesigned state flag in May 2024, replacing a seal-on-blue design. The new flag uses a single eight-pointed white North Star on dark and light blue fields. The star echoes the Ojibwe star quilt pattern and represents Minnesota's motto, L'Étoile du Nord. It is the only current US state flag with an eight-pointed star.
Utah: The Star Beneath the Beehive
Utah adopted its redesigned state flag in March 2024, replacing the seal-on-blue design in use since 1913. The new flag centers the beehive on a blue field, with a white five-pointed star positioned directly beneath the beehive. The star represents Utah's status as the 45th state admitted to the Union, on January 4, 1896. A sego lily and a stylized mountain range complete the design.
US Territories with One Star
Beyond the 50 states, several US territories feature a single prominent star on their flags. The most recognizable is Puerto Rico — but the US Virgin Islands and American Samoa also carry eagle imagery that intersects with the star-flag tradition.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico's flag places a white five-pointed star at the center of a blue equilateral triangle on the hoist side, against five alternating red and white horizontal stripes. The stripes echo the US flag; the triangle and star were designed in 1895 by the Puerto Rican independence movement. The star represents the island of Puerto Rico — one island, one star. NAVA's state and territory flag surveys consistently rank Puerto Rico's design among the top-scoring in the US system, citing its bold geometry and immediate legibility at any distance.
Facts About Single-Star State Flags
Quick Answers
Which US state flag is officially the Lone Star flag?
Does the new Minnesota flag have a star?
Why is the star on the Arizona flag copper?
How many US state flags have a star on them?
What state flag has a red star?
What is a 'seal on a bedsheet' flag?
Which US territory flag has a single star?
What does the North Star represent on the Minnesota flag?
Methodology
How we researched this list
Flags were included when a single star is a major official design element. Sources prioritize state specs.
Sources
Sources & references
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Minnesota Secretary of State — New State Flag 2024https://www.sos.mn.gov/about-minnesota/state-symbols/state-flag/
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