South Carolina State Flag

What Is the South Carolina State Flag?

The South Carolina state flag is the official banner representing the state of South Carolina. An indigo field holds a white palmetto tree at the center. A white crescent appears in the upper left corner.

The design traces to 1775 when Colonel William Moultrie created a flag for South Carolina militia troops. The original flag showed only the crescent on a blue field. The palmetto tree was added when South Carolina adopted the official state flag on January 28, 1861.

South Carolina law does not specify exact colors, sizes, or placement of the symbols. This has led to variations in flag designs from different manufacturers. Attempts to standardize the design have faced opposition.

What the South Carolina State Flag Means

The South Carolina state flag meaning connects to the state's Revolutionary War history. Each element honors South Carolina's military defense and independence.

The palmetto tree represents Fort Moultrie's defense against British attack. The fort's walls were built with palmetto logs over sand. These soft logs absorbed British cannon fire during the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776. The crescent comes from the silver insignia worn on militia caps.

History of the South Carolina State Flag

In 1775, Colonel William Moultrie designed a flag for South Carolina troops fighting in the American Revolutionary War. The Council of Safety asked him to create the design. Moultrie chose blue to match the militia's uniforms. He added a white crescent taken from the silver insignia on their caps. The flag was first flown at Fort Johnson.

The flag gained fame during the Battle of Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776. British forces attacked a fortress defended by Moultrie. During the sixteen-hour battle, British cannon fire shot down the flag. Sergeant William Jasper ran into the open and raised it again. He rallied the troops until the flag could be mounted properly. This act saved Charleston from conquest for four years.

The flag became known as the Moultrie Flag or Liberty Flag. It served as the standard of South Carolina militia throughout the war. Major General Nathanael Greene presented it in Charleston when the city was liberated. Greene called it the first American flag to fly over the South.

South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860. The state needed a new flag for its independence. An unofficial draft showed a white field with a green palmetto and a blue canton bearing a white crescent. The state debated designs through January 1861.

On January 26, 1861, the South Carolina General Assembly adopted a flag with a gold palmetto inside a white circle on a blue field. The crescent appeared in the upper left. This design lasted only two days. On January 28, 1861, the state changed the gold palmetto to white and removed the circle. This version remains the official flag today.

Previous Versions of the South Carolina State Flag

Symbols of the South Carolina State Flag

South Carolina State Flag Colors

The South Carolina state flag uses indigo and white. The indigo matches the color of militia uniforms from the Revolutionary War. South Carolina law does not provide official color specifications.

Various shades of indigo appear on flags from different manufacturers. A proposed standardization would make Pantone 282 C the official shade. White appears on the palmetto tree and crescent.

South Carolina State Flag Facts

• South Carolina adopted its state flag on January 28, 1861
• The original Moultrie Flag was designed in 1775 by Colonel William Moultrie
• The palmetto tree represents Fort Moultrie's defense in 1776
• A version with a gold palmetto lasted only two days in January 1861
• The flag ranked 10th best out of 72 in a 2001 NAVA survey
• South Carolina law does not specify exact colors or symbol placement