This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Samantha Fulton, BA. Samantha graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 2025. As an undergraduate, she wrote and edited for the Daily Beacon and the Undergraduate Journal of Digital Humanities and interned for the University of Tennessee Press. She has been published in UT’s student literary magazine, the Phoenix, and won the Michael Dennis Award for Best Undergraduate Essay. As a staff writer for wikiHow, Samantha’s goal is to use her writing to educate and connect with readers who share her love of falling down internet rabbit holes and picking up a new niche interest every other week. She is particularly well-versed in literature and existentialist philosophy.
There are 50 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
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State flags offer unique insight into the history and values of each American state. Often featuring significant state symbols, state flags carry meaning and significance for the state they represent… and sometimes even controversy! Use this guide to learn more about the design of all 50 state flags, complete with historical fun facts!
U.S. State Flags
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=1-2A-2
- ↑ https://www.alaska.edu/uajourney/history-and-trivia/Alaska+State+Flag+and+Song/
- ↑ https://azlibrary.gov/dazl/almanac/azflag
- ↑ https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/education/arkansas-history/history-of-the-flag/story-of-the-flag
- ↑ https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24644
- ↑ https://history.denverlibrary.org/news/western-history/what-do-colors-colorado-state-flag-mean
- ↑ https://connecticuthistory.org/connecticuts-official-state-flag-who-knew/
- ↑ https://viola.delaware.gov/delaware-facts-symbols/
- ↑ https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-state-symbols/state-flag/
- ↑ https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/state-flags-of-georgia/
- ↑ https://ltgov.hawaii.gov/virtual-tour-history-of-the-hawaiʻi-flag/
- ↑ https://idaho.gov/about-idaho/facts-symbols/#gsc.tab=0
- ↑ https://washingtonco.illinois.gov/illinois-symbols/
- ↑ https://www.in.gov/governorhistory/ericjholcomb/info-for-kids/state-symbols/what-is-the-meaning-behind-the-indiana-state-flag/
- ↑ https://iassar.org/2008/01/01/state-flag/
- ↑ https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/kansas-state-flag.html
- ↑ https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/kentucky-state-flag.html
- ↑ https://64parishes.org/entry/louisiana-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Maine
- ↑ https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/symbols/flag.html
- ↑ https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/massachusetts-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Michigan
- ↑ https://www.mnhs.org/mnopedia/search/index/thing/minnesota-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mississippi-will-replace-its-confederate-themed-state-flag-180976209/#:~:text=The+Mississippi+flag+was+redesigned+to+replace,and+thin+gold+stripes+on+either+side https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/mississippi-will-replace-its-confederate-themed-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.sos.mo.gov/kids/history/flag.asp
- ↑ https://sosmt.gov/state-flag/
- ↑ https://history.nebraska.gov/publications_section/state-flag/
- ↑ https://www.leg.state.nv.us/assembly/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Nevada-Fun-with-Flags-2.pdf
- ↑ https://www.prd.uscourts.gov/new-hampshire-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.njstatehousetours.org/159/State-Seal-and-Flag
- ↑ https://www.sos.nm.gov/about-new-mexico/state-flag/
- ↑ https://www.nysl.nysed.gov/reference/emblems
- ↑ https://www.ncpedia.org/symbols/flag
- ↑ https://www.ndstudies.gov/gr4/citizenship/part-5-symbols/section-6-north-dakota-flag
- ↑ https://ohiomemory.ohiohistory.org/archives/6169
- ↑ https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=ST066
- ↑ https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/oregon_state_flag/
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Pennsylvania
- ↑ https://www.ri.gov/facts/factsfigures.php
- ↑ https://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/coolstuff/seal.shtml
- ↑ https://www.sdhsf.org/news_events/history_articles.html/title/june-2013-south-dakota-s-state-flag
- ↑ https://sos.tn.gov/civics/pages/tennessee-state-symbols
- ↑ https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/flagdes
- ↑ https://flag.utah.gov/symbolism/
- ↑ https://vermonthistoryexplorer.org/vermont-state-flag-and-coat-of-arms
- ↑ https://www.britannica.com/topic/flag-of-Virginia
- ↑ https://www.sos.wa.gov/washington-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Educational/Kids_Page/symbols.cfm
- ↑ https://www.eekwi.org/explore/state-facts/wisconsin-state-flag
- ↑ https://www.wyo.gov/about-wyoming/wyoming-facts-and-symbols




















































