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This is alist of flags in the United States describing the evolution of theflag of the United States, as well as other flags used within the United States, such as the flags ofgovernmental agencies. There are also separate flags for embassies and ships.
Since 1818, a star for each new state has been added to the flag on theFourth of July the year immediately following each state's admission. In years in which multiple states have been admitted, the corresponding number of stars were added to the flag. This change has typically been the only change made with each revision of the flag since 1777, with the exception of changes in 1795 and 1818, which increased the number of stripes to 15 and then returned it to 13, respectively. As the exact pattern of stars was not specified prior to 1912, many of the historical U.S. national flags (shown below) have had varied arrangements of the stars.[1]
Flag of theChief of Naval Operations
Flag of theVice Chief of Naval Operations
Flag of theNavyfleet admiral
Flag of anunrestricted line (URL)Navyadmiral(staff corps flag officers have white flags with the appropriate number of blue stars in an identical pattern as URL admiral's flags).
Flag of an URLNavyvice admiral
Flag of an URLNavyrear admiral
Flag of an URLNavyrear admiral (lower half)
Flag ofMilitary Sealift Command
TheCivil Air Patrol (CAP) is acongressionally chartered,federally supportednon-profit corporation that serves as the officialcivilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. It has quasi-military organizational and rank structures modeled on those of the Air Force.[2]
Flag of theDepartment of the Interior
Flag of theSecretary of the Interior
Flag of theDeputy Secretary of the Interior
Flag of theNational Park Service
Guidon of theNational Park Service
Flag of theBureau of Indian Affairs
Flag of theFish and Wildlife Service
Flag of theBureau of Land Management
Flag of theGeological Survey
Many agencies, departments, and offices of the U.S. federal government have their own flags, guidons, or standards. Following traditional American vexillology, these usually consist of the agency's departmental seal on a blank opaque background, but not always.

The flags of theU.S.states,territories, andfederal district exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Nonetheless, the majority of the states' flags share the same design pattern consisting of thestate seal superimposed on a monochrome background, commonly every different shade of blue, which remains a source of criticism fromvexillologists.
The most recent current state flag is that ofMinnesota (May 11, 2024), while the most recent current territorial flag is that of theNorthern Mariana Islands (July 1, 1985).
Modern U.S. state flags date from the 1890s, when states wanted to have distinctive symbols at the 1893World's Columbian Exposition inChicago,Illinois. Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 andWorld War I.[3]
According to a 2001 survey by theNorth American Vexillological Association,New Mexico has the best-designed flag of any U.S. state, U.S. territory, orCanadian province, while Georgia's state flag was rated the worst design.[4] (Georgia adopted a new flag in 2003; Nebraska's state flag, whose design was rated second worst, remains in use to date.)
Dates in parentheses denote when the current flag was adopted by the state's legislature.
Flag ofCalifornia
(June 14, 1953)[7]
Flag ofConnecticut
(September 9, 1897)
Flag ofMassachusetts
(July 3, 1971)
Flag ofMississippi
(January 11, 2021)
Flag ofNew Hampshire
(1931)
Flag ofNew Jersey
(May 11, 1896)
Flag ofNew Mexico
(March 19, 1925)[14]
Flag ofNorth Carolina
(March 9, 1885)[15]
Flag ofNorth Dakota
(March 11, 1911)
Flag ofPennsylvania
(June 13, 1907)
Flag ofRhode Island
(November 1, 1897)
Flag ofSouth Carolina
(January 26, 1861)
Flag ofSouth Dakota
(November 9, 1992)
Flag ofWashington
(March 5, 1923)
Flag ofWest Virginia
(March 7, 1929)
Since 1777, the nationalensign of the United States has also simultaneously served as its national flag. The current version is shown below; for previous versions, please see the sectionHistorical progression of designs above.
While the countries mentioned are recognized independent nations withUnited Nations seats, the United States maintains and exercises jurisdictional control over the countries in defense, security, and funding grants.
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Flag of the President (1882)
Flag of the President (1899)
Flag of the President (1902)
Flag of the President (1916)
Flag of the President (1945)
Flag of the Vice President (1915)
Flag of the Vice President (1936)
Flag of the Vice President (1948)
Flag of theEnvironmental Science Services Administration (1965–1970)
Flag of theFederal Emergency Management Agency (until 2003)
Flag of theBureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (until 2003)
Flag of theImmigration and Naturalization Service
Flag of theDepartment of the Interior (until 1917)
Flag of theGeneral Services Administration (1972–1973)
Flag of theGeneral Services Administration (1973–1989)
Flag of theSecretary of the Interior (1917–1934)
Infantry Battalion flag (de facto flag of the U.S. Navy until 1959)
Flag of theSecretary of Defense (1947-1949)
Flag of theSecretary of Labor (1915–1960)
Flag of theDepartment of Labor (1915–1960)
Flag of theSecretary of the Treasury (1887–1915)
Flag of theDepartment of Health, Education, and Welfare
Flag of theSecretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
Flag of thePublic Health and Marine-Hospital Service
Flag of theMarine Hospital Service
Flag of theBureau of Navigation (?–1946)
Flag of theDirector of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (?–1946)
Ensign of theRevenue-Marine (1799)
Ensign of theRevenue-Marine (1815)
Ensign of theRevenue-Marine (1836)
Ensign of theRevenue-Marine (1841)
Ensign of theRevenue-Marine (1867)
Ensign of theRevenue-Marine (1868)
Ensign of theCoast Guard (1915–1953)
Flag of theCoast Guard Auxiliary (1940–1968)
Flag of theOffice of Homeland Security (2001–2002)
Flag of theDirector of Central Intelligence
Flag of theNational Imagery and Mapping Agency
Flag ofU.S. Forces – Iraq (2010–2011)
Flag of theUnited States Bureau of Fisheries (?–1940)
Flag of theCommissioner of Fisheries (?–1940)
Flag of theUnited States Fish and Wildlife Service (1940–c. 2019)
Flag of theUnited States Coast and Geodetic Survey (1899–1970)
Commissioning pennant of theUnited States Coast and Geodetic Survey for Class I vessels ( ? –1970)
Commissioning pennant of theUnited States Coast and Geodetic Survey for Class II, III, and IV vessels ( ? –1970)
Pennant of the
United States Life-Saving Service
(?–1915)
Pennant of theUnited States Lighthouse Service
(?–1939)
Flag of theCommissioner of Lighthouses
(?–1939)
Flag of theSuperintendent of Lighthouses
(?–1939)
Flag of theMarine Corps
(1861–1863)
Flag of theMarine Corps
(1914–1939)
Flag of theChief of Chaplains of the United States Army
Flag of theUnited States Army Adjutant General's Corps
Flag of theUnited States Army Chaplain Corps (1983–1993)
Flag of the140th Military Intelligence Battalion
Fort Sumter Flag (1861)
Flag of theChief of the National Guard Bureau (1998-2008)
Flag of theDepartment of Transportation (1967–1980)
Colors shall be colorfast and shall not bleed one into another. Added by Laws 1925, c. 234, p. 340, § 1. Amended by Laws 1941, p. 90, § 1; Laws 2006, c. 181, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006.
This act shall become effective November 1, 2006.
The flag of the Commonwealth shall be a deep blue field, with a circular white centre of the same material. Upon this circle shall be painted or embroidered, to show on both sides alike, the coat of arms of the Commonwealth, as described in § 1-500 for the obverse of the great seal of the Commonwealth; and there may be a white fringe on the outer edge, furthest from the flagstaff. This shall be known and respected as the flag of the Commonwealth. (Code 1950, § 7-32; 1966, c. 102, § 7.1-32; 2005, c. 839.)
The department of administration shall ensure that all official state flags that are manufactured on or after May 1, 1981, conform to the requirements of this section. State flags manufactured before May 1, 1981, may continue to be used as state flags.
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