# Does your city have a flag? What does it look like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 19, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318 "2019-07-19T21:08:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Swampwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Swampwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swampwolf)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/1 "2019-07-19T21:08:24Z")
Inspired by [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=879006) The title says it all. I’ll start: Presenting, [Chapel Hill, NC](https://carrot-top.com/chapel-hill-nc-flag) I like it. symbolic, well-designed, good colors, with the silhouettes of some of the more recognizeable (to locals, anyway) structures. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/2 "2019-07-19T21:17:01Z")
[Chicago has a flag](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61yWupAFwrL._SL1500_.jpg), which is frequently seen in the city. The symbology of the elements of the Chicago flag: - The three white background areas of the flag represent Chicago’s North, West, and South sides - The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan, and the North Branch of the Chicago River - The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River, and the Great Canal - The four, six-pointed red stars represent pivotal events in Chicago history: \>- The first star represents the Chicago Fire of 1871 \>- The second star represents the Columbian Exposition of 1893 \>- The third star reprsents the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933-34 \>- The fourth star represents the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812 \>- Each of the points of each of those stars has symbolism attached to it, as well ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/3 "2019-07-19T21:25:30Z")
[This](https://milwaukeeflag.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/MilwaukeeFlag.png) is our current one. It’s the sun rising over Lake Michigan. Compared to past ones and some of the runners up before they chose this one, I kinda like it. The other day, I saw someone that had [painted it onto the front of their Jeep](https://i.imgur.com/13pxdus.jpg?2). ETA, this is for Milwaukee. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/4 "2019-07-19T21:52:42Z")
Here’s Tucson’s city flag. [![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61tagv-MwYL._SX355_.jpg) ](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61tagv-MwYL._SX355_.jpg) It incorporates the city’s skyline with the surrounding Sonoran desert area. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/5 "2019-07-19T22:03:49Z")
[Atlanta’s](http://https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Atlanta.svg) flag is kinda boring, just a gold seal on a blue background. But the phoenix rising from flames and the motto “Resurgens” are completely appropriate for our city’s history. Shame it couldn’t have a bit more pizzazz; the only place I’ve ever seen it flying is outside city buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/6 "2019-07-19T22:37:28Z")
Panama City, Panama, has a [pretty elaborate one.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Bandera_de_Ciudad_de_Panam%C3%A1.svg/1024px-Bandera_de_Ciudad_de_Panam%C3%A1.svg.png) It’s basically the coat of arms of the city. The border is composed of the castles and lions of Castile and Leon, and the center contains a yoke for oxen, arrows, and two ships. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/7 "2019-07-19T23:43:24Z")
San Francisco’s flag: [Flag of San Francisco - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_San_Francisco) The motto, “Oro en paz. Fierro en guerra,” which I believe translates to “Gold in peace. Iron in war” is also on police uniforms (and probably fire department too, but I haven’t seen those). I believe the flag is flown major city buildings like city hall. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/8 "2019-07-19T23:43:52Z")
Folsom does not have a flag that I am aware of. Sacramento, the nearest major city, does. It looks like [this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Flag_of_Sacramento%2C_California.svg), with some swoopy, curvy fields of green, blue, white, darker blue, and yellow. I guess maybe the white one it the middle is supposed to represent the river but I don’t know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/9 "2019-07-20T00:19:40Z")
Fort Wayne IN displays it in every classroom and elsewhere. It has symbols for the Miami Indian, French, and English government and a blockhouse for the fort that it was before it was settled. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag\_of\_Fort\_Wayne,\_Indiana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Fort_Wayne,_Indiana) ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/10 "2019-07-20T00:44:58Z")
DC’s flag is based on George Washington’s coat of arms. [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag\_of\_Washington,\_D.C](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Washington,_D.C). ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/11 "2019-07-20T01:21:10Z")
[Nashville’s flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nashville,_Tennessee) is similar to the [Tennessee state flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Tennessee) – a solid color with a circular logo in the middle and a fimbriated (thinly outlined in a contrasting color; in this case, white) stripe on the fly (the end not near the pole). Instead of three stars in a weird orientation (all pointing toward the center and 18 degrees clockwise from two-over-one; the bottom star also points to the right), there’s the city seal. Instead of a red flag with a blue fly (the end not near the pole), there’s a blue flag with a yellow fly. Nashville Football [i.e., soccer] Club took its colors from the flag and passed them on to the present-day Nashville Soccer Club. The Nashville Predators also use the flag’s colors, but I can’t find a cite saying that was intentional. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/12 "2019-07-20T01:33:43Z")
Fort Worth’s flag is a [simple white flag with Fort Worth in blue over a Texas longhorn (our city mascot Molly)](http://fotw.fivestarflags.com/us-tx-fw.html). I imagine it wouldn’t have to say Fort Worth, we’d just have a longhorn, if it weren’t for that damned university in Austin. It is, possibly, better than the very [first City of Fort Worth flag from 1912](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_cities_of_the_United_States#/media/File:Flag_of_Fort_Worth,_Texas_(1912%E2%80%931968).gif). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/13 "2019-07-20T02:36:09Z")
[The flag of Rochester, New York.](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-nyrch.html) Not great but definitely better than the flag of [Rochester, Minnesota](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-mn-r.html) or [Rochester, Massachusetts](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-maroc.html). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/14 "2019-07-20T02:47:49Z")
The [City of London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_City_of_London) has a flag. That only applies to the City, though the square mile. My area doesn’t have a flag. They’re not a big thing in England. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/15 "2019-07-20T04:01:50Z")
Just about every city of 50,000 or so has a flag. And just about all of them are unmemorable and without character. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/16 "2019-07-20T04:44:59Z")
New Britain, CT has a [seal](http://todesignllc.com/uploads/images/Testimonial%20Clients/newbritain.jpg). I don’t know the history behind the bee hive and to be honest, I don’t really care. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/17 "2019-07-20T04:49:09Z")
[I kinda like the Portland OR flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Portland,_Oregon#/media/File:Flag_of_Portland,_Oregon.svg). ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/18 "2019-07-20T05:44:57Z")
> [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](#): > > New Britain, CT has a [seal](http://todesignllc.com/uploads/images/Testimonial%20Clients/newbritain.jpg). I don’t know the history behind the bee hive and to be honest, I don’t really care. One bit of history is that [the motto is misspelled](https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2007-05-31-0705310259-story.html). ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/19 "2019-07-20T07:43:44Z")
Here’s a list of flags associated with particular areas and cities of England (though technically more of them have a coat of arms than a flag) [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_English\_flags](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_English_flags) Paris: [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag\_of\_Paris](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Paris) Berlin: [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag\_of\_Berlin](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Berlin) Amsterdam: [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag\_of\_Amsterdam](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Amsterdam) ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2019, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/20 "2019-07-20T08:04:10Z")
[Flag of Las Vegas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Las_Vegas#/media/File:Flag_of_Las_Vegas,_Nevada.svg). It sucks and it’s not at all original. It’s just a derivative of the [Flag of Nevada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Nevada#/media/File:Flag_of_Nevada.svg), which also sucks. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318.md?page=2)