Official and Traditional Colors of Delaware
Delaware state colors are Colonial Blue and Buff, officially designated in 1913. Includes HEX, RGB, CMYK, and Pantone codes plus the history and symbolism behind each color.
Official color palette of Delaware
State color reference
- Official colors
- Colonial Blue and Buff
- Official since
- 1913 (Delaware Code, Title 29, Chapter 3)
- Primary use
- State Flag, state government branding, official state insignia, Delaware Diamond milestone commemorations
- Known for
- Directly replicating the uniform colors of General George Washington and the Continental Army during the American Revolution, honoring Delaware's status as the First State to ratify the United States Constitution
Color Specifications
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Blue
Directly replicates the blue coat of General George Washington's Continental Army uniform; represents Delaware's foundational role in the American Revolution, its status as the First State, and the loyalty and valor of Delaware's Continental soldiers who served under Washington throughout the Revolutionary War
Buff
Replicates the buff-colored facings, lapels, and breeches of Washington's Continental Army uniform; buff — a warm yellowish-cream derived from undyed leather — was the standard facing color for the Commander-in-Chief's Guard and general officer uniforms, symbolizing Delaware's direct connection to the founding of the United States
WCAG Contrast Checker
Accessibility compliance for Blue and Buff
Buff
on Blue background
Blue
on Buff background
WCAG 2.1 Standards:
- AA Normal Text: 4.5:1 minimum
- AA Large Text: 3:1 minimum
- AAA Normal Text: 7:1 minimum
- AAA Large Text: 4.5:1 minimum
Developer Export
Copy-paste ready code snippets
CSS Variables
/* CSS Variables for Delaware */
:root {
--delaware-blue: #3D6B9E;
--delaware-buff: #E8C97B;
}Tailwind CSS Config
// tailwind.config.js
module.exports = {
theme: {
extend: {
colors: {
'delaware': {
'blue': '#3D6B9E',
'buff': '#E8C97B',
}
}
}
}
}SCSS Variables
// SCSS Variables for Delaware
$delaware-blue: #3D6B9E;
$delaware-buff: #E8C97B;
Year Delaware became the First State by ratifying the United States Constitution on December 7 — a date inscribed directly on the state flag's colonial blue diamond, permanently linking Delaware's official colors to the founding of the American republic
Official Designation and History
Delaware formally designated colonial blue and buff as the official state colors in 1913 under Title 29, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code, making it one of the earlier states to codify its color identity by legislative statute. The designation gave legal standing to a color pairing whose historical justification was unambiguous: colonial blue and buff were the precise colors of General George Washington's Continental Army uniform, and Delaware's connection to Washington's Revolutionary War command was a point of deep civic pride in the state and in the wider state colors reference.
The colors appear most prominently on the Delaware state flag, which features the state coat of arms centered on a diamond of colonial blue against a buff background. The flag's buff field and blue diamond directly reverse the layering of Washington's uniform — blue coat over buff facings — creating a complementary visual relationship between the flag's design and its historical source. The flag's colonial blue diamond also incorporates the date December 7, 1787, the day Delaware ratified the United States Constitution and became the First State, permanently linking the state colors to Delaware's most celebrated historical achievement.
Washington's Uniform and Delaware's Identity
The choice of Washington's uniform colors as Delaware's state colors was a conscious act of Revolutionary War commemoration made in 1913, the same decade that saw widespread celebration of the American founding era. Washington's blue and buff uniform was among the most recognizable military dress of the 18th century: the blue coat, buff waistcoat, buff breeches, and buff facings constituted the standard uniform of the Commander-in-Chief's Guard and were worn by Washington himself throughout the Revolutionary War campaigns from 1775 to 1783. Delaware units, particularly the Delaware Regiment — known as the 'Blue Hen's Chickens' — served with distinction under Washington's command, making the uniform colors a specifically Delaware-relevant symbol rather than a generic patriotic reference.
Title 29, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code
Delaware Code Title 29, Chapter 3 governs the state's official symbols and designates colonial blue and buff as the official state colors without specifying exact Pantone values in the legislative text. The Delaware Division of the Arts and the Office of Management and Budget have since standardized the colors for official state applications. The buff background of the Delaware state flag has been described in state flag specifications as 'buff' or 'tan,' and the colonial blue of the diamond has been standardized for procurement purposes to ensure consistent reproduction across government documents, signage, and digital media.
Key milestones
Continental Army established under General Washington's command; the blue coat with buff facings becomes the standard uniform of Washington's command, establishing the color pairing Delaware would later adopt as its state colors
Delaware Regiment — the 'Blue Hen's Chickens' — serves with distinction at the Battle of Long Island under Washington's command, fighting in the uniform colors that would become Delaware's state colors
Delaware ratifies the United States Constitution on December 7, becoming the First State; the date is later inscribed on the state flag's colonial blue diamond and reflected in [Delaware's borders and geography guide](/states/delaware/borders)
Delaware state seal adopted, incorporating colonial blue alongside the state's broader heraldic color palette
Delaware Legislature officially designates colonial blue and buff as the state colors under Title 29, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code, codifying the Revolutionary War uniform color tradition
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What the Colors Represent
Delaware's colonial blue and buff carry a singular historical meaning that sets them apart from almost every other state's color tradition: they are a direct color quotation from one of the most important military uniforms in American history. No other state has so precisely anchored its official colors to the dress of a specific Revolutionary War commander. This specificity transforms the colors from abstract symbols into historical artifacts — wearing or displaying Delaware's colonial blue and buff is, in a sense, referencing the exact appearance of George Washington leading the Continental Army through the campaigns that created the United States.
Colonial Blue in Delaware History
The specific shade of colonial blue used in Delaware's state colors and flag is a medium-value periwinkle-leaning blue, notably different from the deep navy blues used by many other states. This lighter, more colonial-era tone reflects the actual dye technology of the 18th century, when the blue used for Continental Army uniforms was produced from indigo — a natural dye that produced this characteristic medium blue rather than the darker synthetic navy blues that became common in the 19th century. Delaware's preservation of this historically accurate shade connects the modern state's visual identity directly to the material culture of the Revolutionary War era.
Buff in Delaware History
Buff is a color with a precise historical definition: it is the natural yellowish-cream color of undyed or lightly processed leather, specifically the leather of buffalo hide from which the color takes its name. In the Continental Army, buff facings were reserved for Washington's own command and the units under his direct authority, giving the color a specific prestige hierarchy within Revolutionary War military dress. For Delaware — which contributed the Delaware Regiment to Washington's command and whose soldiers fought in nearly every major engagement of the Revolutionary War including the Battle of Long Island, Trenton, Brandywine, and Monmouth — buff carries a direct record of Delaware's Revolutionary generation — the same prestige color that marked Washington's command, worn by the Delaware Regiment at Long Island, Trenton, Brandywine, and Monmouth.
Usage in Flags, Seals, and Insignias
Colonial blue and buff are the two colors that define the Delaware state flag, which is governed by Delaware Code Title 29, Chapter 3, and displayed at the Delaware State Capitol in Dover and all state government buildings. The flag features a buff background with a colonial blue diamond at center bearing the state coat of arms and the date December 7, 1787 below it. The Delaware state seal, adopted in 1777 and revised in 1847, incorporates the same colonial blue alongside additional colors including gold, green, and red that represent Delaware's agricultural and maritime heritage, but the flag's two-color colonial blue and buff palette remains the dominant state visual identity. These colors appear across Delaware state agency branding, the Delaware Tourism Office's marketing materials, official state publications, and Delaware state government procurement specifications, together with the civic language on the state motto page. The date on the flag — December 7, 1787 — renders the state colors inseparable from Delaware's most celebrated historical distinction as the First State.
Timeline
Continental Army established under General Washington's command; the blue coat with buff facings becomes the standard uniform of Washington's command, establishing the color pairing Delaware would later adopt as its state colors
Continental Army established under General Washington's command; the blue coat with buff facings becomes the standard uniform of Washington's command, establishing the color pairing Delaware would later adopt as its state colors
Delaware Regiment — the 'Blue Hen's Chickens' — serves with distinction at the Battle of Long Island under Washington's command, fighting in the uniform colors that would become Delaware's state colors
Delaware ratifies the United States Constitution on December 7, becoming the First State; the date is later inscribed on the state flag's colonial blue diamond and reflected in [Delaware's borders and geography guide](/states/delaware/borders)
Delaware ratifies the United States Constitution on December 7, becoming the First State; the date is later inscribed on the state flag's colonial blue diamond and reflected in [Delaware's borders and geography guide](/states/delaware/borders)
Delaware state seal adopted, incorporating colonial blue alongside the state's broader heraldic color palette
Delaware Legislature officially designates colonial blue and buff as the state colors under Title 29, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code, codifying the Revolutionary War uniform color tradition
Delaware Legislature officially designates colonial blue and buff as the state colors under Title 29, Chapter 3 of the Delaware Code, codifying the Revolutionary War uniform color tradition
"Delaware's colonial blue and buff are among the most historically specific state colors in the nation — they are not symbols of the Revolutionary War in general but a precise color reference to George Washington's own uniform, worn by the Commander-in-Chief and the soldiers of the First State throughout the campaigns that founded America."
Quick Answers
What are the official colors of Delaware?
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What is the HEX code for Delaware Buff?
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When were Delaware's state colors officially adopted?
What is buff color?
Sources
- Delaware Code Title 29, Chapter 3 - State Symbols
- Delaware Public Archives - State Flag and Symbols
- Delaware State Museums - Revolutionary War Collections
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