North Carolina State Flag
North Carolina's flag highlights the 1775 Mecklenburg Declaration and 1776 Halifax Resolves.
North Carolina State Flag
Official State Flag of North Carolina
State Flag of North Carolina
How the North Carolina State Flag Is Designed
The North Carolina state flag is the official state flag of North Carolina. A vertical blue bar covers the left third. Two horizontal stripes fill the right side. Red sits on top. White runs along the bottom.
A white star appears in the center of the blue bar. Gold letters N and C stand on either side of the star. Two dates appear on gold scrolls. May 20th, 1775 curves above. April 12th, 1776 curves below. Schools, courthouses, and public buildings throughout North Carolina raise this flag.
What the North Carolina Flag Communicates
The flag represents North Carolina's early resistance to British authority. May 20th, 1775 commemorates the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, traditionally associated with early resistance to British rule in Mecklenburg County. The original document has not survived, and historians debate its exact nature.
April 12th, 1776 marks the Halifax Resolves. North Carolina became the first colony to officially authorize its delegates to vote for independence from Britain. This resolution paved the way for the Declaration of Independence and reinforces values in North Carolina's motto.
The white star symbolizes North Carolina's identity as a state and its role in the Union. Red represents courage and sacrifice. White stands for purity. Blue symbolizes vigilance and justice, aligning with the broader identity of the Tar Heel State.
North Carolina Flag History and Adoption
North Carolina approved its current flag design in 1885. The legislature replaced an earlier Civil War-era flag. Colonel John D. Whitford designed the 1885 flag. He kept the basic layout but changed key elements.
The first official state flag dated to 1861. William G. Browne designed it during the Civil War. That flag showed May 20th, 1861 as the date. This marked North Carolina's secession to join the Confederacy. After the war, the state wanted a design focused on earlier independence history.
The 1885 flag swapped the positions of blue and red stripes. It replaced the secession date with April 12th, 1776. The letters N and C were added flanking the star. In 1991, the legislature changed the proportions from 3:4 to 2:3. This made the flag wider and easier to manufacture, while keeping continuity with North Carolina's official colors.
Earlier Versions of the North Carolina Flag
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Blue and red stripes swapped positions, letters N and C added, May 20th 1861 replaced with April 12th 1776, both dates given golden scrolls.
Proportions changed from 3:4 to 2:3 ratio making the flag wider.
All versions
Key Symbols on the North Carolina Flag
White Star
Historical Dates
N and C Letters
Red and White Stripes
Blue Vertical Bar
North Carolina State Flag Colors
The flag uses red, white, blue, and gold. Red and white form the horizontal stripes. Blue creates the vertical bar. Gold appears in the letters N and C and the date scrolls, and these tones can be compared in U.S. state colors.
Interesting Facts
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Sources
North Carolina State Symbols
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