Arizona State Flag
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
Arizona State Flag
Arizona adopted its state flag in 1917, featuring thirteen red and gold rays radiating from a copper star. The lower half displays a dark blue field. Colonel Charles W. Harris designed the flag in 1910 for the Arizona Rifle Team.
What Is the Arizona State Flag?
The Arizona state flag is the official banner representing Arizona. Thirteen rays of alternating red and gold radiate from the center top. A copper-colored star sits at the center.
The lower half shows a dark blue field. The flag measures two units high by three units wide. The copper star measures one unit in height.
Government buildings, schools, and public locations across Arizona fly this flag.
Meaning of the Arizona State Flag
The Arizona state flag represents the state's history and natural resources. Each element connects to Arizona's past or economy.
The copper star symbolizes Arizona's copper mining industry. Arizona produces more copper than any other state. The thirteen rays represent the original thirteen colonies.
The red and gold colors come from the Spanish flag, honoring early explorers like Coronado who traveled through Arizona. The blue field represents the Colorado River and liberty.
History of the Arizona State Flag
Colonel Charles W. Harris designed the flag in 1910 for the Arizona National Guard rifle team. During competition at Camp Perry, Ohio, Arizona was the only team without a flag or emblem. Harris worked with W. R. Stewart of Mesa to create a design.
Stewart's wife Mae sewed the first competition flag from a sketch drawn on an envelope. Carl Hayden, Arizona's first U.S. Representative, helped with the design. His wife Nan Hayden sewed the first official state flag.
The Third Arizona Legislature adopted the flag on February 27, 1917. Governor Thomas Campbell never signed the bill but did not veto it either. He never explained his reasons for not taking action.
Previous Versions of the Arizona State Flag
Arizona State Flag
Designed by Colonel Charles W. Harris for the Arizona National Guard rifle team competition. The design was later adopted as the official Arizona state flag without changes.
Symbols of the Arizona State Flag
Arizona State Flag Copper Star
A copper-colored five-pointed star sits at the center of the flag. The star measures one unit tall, positioned where the rays and blue field meet.
The copper star identifies Arizona as the largest copper producer in the United States. Copper mining has been central to Arizona's economy since territorial days.
Arizona State Flag Rays
Thirteen rays radiate from the copper star across the top half of the flag. Six rays are gold and seven are red, alternating in color.
The rays represent the original thirteen colonies and the western setting sun. The red and gold colors honor Spanish explorers who traveled through Arizona searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola.
Arizona State Flag Blue Field
A dark blue field covers the lower half of the flag. This blue matches the liberty blue used in the United States flag.
The blue represents the Colorado River, which forms part of Arizona's western border. Blue and gold are Arizona's official state colors.
Arizona State Flag Colors
The Arizona state flag uses blue, red, old gold, and copper. The blue and red match the colors in the United States flag.
Liberty blue covers the lower half. Old glory red and old gold alternate in the thirteen rays. Copper colors the center star. Arizona statute provides Cable and Pantone values for blue and red but not for gold or copper.
Arizona State Flag Facts
- Arizona adopted its state flag on February 27, 1917
- Colonel Charles W. Harris designed the flag in 1910
- The flag was originally created for the Arizona Rifle Team
- Thirteen rays represent the original thirteen colonies
- The copper star symbolizes Arizona's copper mining industry
- The flag ranked sixth in a 2001 North American vexillological survey
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Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records and historical databases.
Official statutes regarding the state flag design and specifications • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Historical documentation of the Arizona state flag • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Survey data on state and provincial flag design quality • Accessed: January 15, 2026
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