Ohio State Flag
Fact-checked • Updated January 15, 2025
Ohio State Flag
In 1902, Ohio adopted a flag that features a unique swallowtail burgee shape. Architect John Eisenmann designed the banner in 1901 for the Pan-American Exposition. Ohio's flag remains the only non-rectangular state flag in the United States.
What Is the Ohio State Flag?
The Ohio state flag is the official banner representing the state of Ohio. A blue triangle extends from the left edge. Three red and two white horizontal stripes fill the remaining space.
Architect John Eisenmann created the design in 1901. He needed a flag to fly over the Ohio Building at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York. State Representative William S. McKinnon introduced legislation to adopt the design. Ohio lawmakers approved it on May 9, 1902.
The flag uses a swallowtail burgee shape. It stands as the only non-rectangular state flag in the United States. Seventeen white stars surround a white circle with a red center on the blue triangle.
What the Ohio State Flag Means
The Ohio state flag meaning connects to the state's landscape and position in the Union. Each element represents a specific feature of Ohio's geography or history.
The burgee shape suggests Ohio's hills and valleys. The stripes stand for the state's roads and waterways. The white circle with its red center forms the letter O for Ohio and represents the buckeye nut from the state tree.
Seventeen stars mark Ohio as the seventeenth state admitted to the Union. Thirteen stars represent the original colonies. Four additional stars stand for Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio.
How Ohio Chose Its State Flag
Ohio operated without an official state flag for nearly a century after statehood in 1803. In 1860, military leaders proposed a flag featuring the state seal on a white field. James A. Garfield spoke against the proposal in 1861. He argued that Ohio soldiers should march under the national flag only. The plan was dropped.
Cleveland architect John Eisenmann received a commission in 1901 to design the Ohio Building for the Pan-American Exposition. He created a distinctive burgee to fly at each corner of the building. The wool flags represented the Ohio Pan-American Exposition Commission rather than the state itself.
Eisenmann obtained a U.S. design patent for his flag in July 1901. He described it as a triangular swallowtail flag similar to a cavalry guidon. State Representative William S. McKinnon introduced House Bill 213 in 1902 to adopt Eisenmann's design as the official state flag. Governor George K. Nash signed the bill into law on May 9, 1902.
The press initially compared Ohio's flag to foreign designs. Some noted similarities to the Cuban or Philippine flags. Others criticized the red and white circles as resembling the Japanese flag. The design gained popularity slowly. By the early 1900s, only Governor Nash displayed the flag regularly.
Symbols of the Ohio State Flag
Ohio State Flag Burgee Shape
The Ohio flag uses a swallowtail burgee shape instead of a rectangle. The pointed end creates a distinctive silhouette. No other U.S. state flag shares this shape.
Eisenmann designed the shape to represent Ohio's hills and valleys. The triangular form may draw from cavalry flags used during the Civil War and Spanish-American War. The unique shape prevents the flag from being flown incorrectly.
Ohio State Flag Stars
Seventeen white five-pointed stars appear on the blue triangle. They surround the white circle and red disc. The stars are arranged in a specific pattern.
Thirteen stars represent the original thirteen colonies. Four additional stars mark Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Ohio as the next four states to join the Union. Ohio became the seventeenth state in 1803.
Ohio State Flag Circle
A white circle sits at the center of the blue triangle. A red disc fills the circle's interior. Together they form the letter O.
The circle represents Ohio's name. It also symbolizes the buckeye nut from the state tree. Eisenmann noted the design represents the original territory of Ohio in the Northwest Territory.
Ohio State Flag Stripes
Three red stripes alternate with two white stripes across the flag. The stripes run horizontally from the blue triangle to the pointed end.
The stripes symbolize Ohio's roads and waterways. They connect the design to the national flag while maintaining a distinct appearance.
Colors of the Ohio State Flag
The Ohio state flag uses red, white, and blue. These colors match those on the U.S. national flag. The Ohio Secretary of State provides specific Cable and Pantone values for each color.
Blue forms the triangular field on the left. Red appears in the central disc and three horizontal stripes. White fills two stripes and the circle surrounding the red disc.
Quick Facts About the Ohio State Flag
- Ohio adopted its state flag on May 9, 1902
- John Eisenmann designed the flag in 1901 for the Pan-American Exposition
- The flag is the only non-rectangular U.S. state flag
- The swallowtail shape is called a burgee
- An official folding procedure creates 17 folds symbolizing Ohio as the 17th state
- Ohio adopted an official flag salute in 2002 for the flag's centennial
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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.
Comprehensive history and details about Ohio's unique burgee flag • Accessed: January 15, 2026
Official information about Ohio state symbols including the flag • Accessed: January 15, 2026
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