Flags of the U.S. states and territories


The flags of the U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia exhibit a variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as different styles and design principles. Modern U.S. state flags date from the turn of the 20th century, when states considered distinctive symbols for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Most U.S. state flags were designed and adopted between 1893 and World War I.
The most recently adopted state flag is that of Minnesota, adopted on May 11, 2024, while the most recently adopted territorial flag is that of the Northern Mariana Islands, adopted on July 1, 1985. The flag of the District of Columbia was adopted in 1938. Recent legislation in Massachusetts and Illinois have started the process of redesigning their state flags. Maine put a flag redesign on the ballot in November 2024, but the new design lost in a [2024 Flag of Maine|Maine Question 5|referendum].
Many of the state flags share a design pattern consisting of the state seal superimposed on a monochrome background, commonly a shade of blue.

Current state flags

Presented in alphabetical order, along with their respective dates of adoption.

Current federal district flag

This is the current flag of the District of Columbia.

Current territory flags

These are the current official flags of the five permanently inhabited territories of the United States.

Current state ensigns

Maine and Massachusetts have ensigns for use at sea.

Historical state and territory flags

Pre-statehood flags

California, Texas, and Hawaii were independent nations with flags before entering the union. The Utah Territory had a flag before receiving statehood.

Native American flags

Many Native American nations have tribal sovereignty, with jurisdiction over their members and reserved land. Although reservations are on state land, the laws of the state do not necessarily apply. Below are the flags of some of the largest Indian tribes reservations by population and area:

Unofficial flags of United States Minor Outlying Islands

The U.S. national flag is the official flag for all islands, atolls, and reefs composing the United States Minor Outlying Islands. However, unofficial flags are sometimes used to represent some of these insular areas: