# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/81 "2019-07-25T03:12:32Z")
Nawlins is _much_ more interesting than its flag. > [@pulykamell](#): > > I also quite like the Chicago [Municipal Device](https://forgottenchicago.com/articles/the-municipal-device/), a symbol of the city that shows up in logos, on buildings, bridges, etc. It’s basically a Y, often in a circle, symbolizing Wolf Point where the branches of the Chicago River come together. That would have also made for a nice graphic element in our municipal flag if we had decided to go in a different direction (instead of the two light blue bars for the river.) Huh. Never heard of that. Interesting! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/82 "2019-07-25T05:10:11Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I’m too lazy too look up the origins of those Japanese flags, but I get the sense that they were inspired by Corporate flags/logos and not the other way around. No. Both those flags and many Japanese corporate logos are based off, or in the style of, the traditional Japanese crests, called _[mon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_(emblem))_. They fulfill the same role as coats of arms in Europe, but with a fairly different design sensibility. Abstraction is common, as is a sort of elaborate calligraphic play with character forms (I mean, you wouldn’t say [this](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mon_(emblem)#/media/File:Emblem_of_Fukuoka_Prefecture.svg)was calligraphy, would you?). While a lot of these \*technically \*violate precept #4 (No Lettering), I feel the abstraction compensates and they get a pass. The reason you feel they were designed by committee is because they all partake in the same, highly stylized, design language. Possibly also because it’s a foreign style to you so the nuances escape you. As far as I know, there wasn’t any central planning for the Japanese municipal flags (If you could show different, by all means do so) > [@](#): > > They look like the the sub-brands of of a multi-national conglomerate That’s kind of what cities and prefectures \*are \*(well, national conglomerate) See: Precept #5 ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/83 "2019-07-25T05:24:04Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > That’s kind of what cities and prefectures \*are \*(well, national conglomerate) See: Precept #5 ETA: also, note how many of them echo the layout of Japan’s own, awesome flag (possibly the best country flag, certainly in the top 3) ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/84 "2019-07-25T11:46:56Z")
Cornwall, England; we kinda have two, both dead simple, both largely black. One for the [county](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Piran's_Flag), one for the [Duchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Duke_of_Cornwall.svg). The county one is really common, as a flag, bumper sticker, and on tourist tat, the Duchy flag is only really used as a flag on bits of the Duchy estate, but the crest version is pretty common on things, especially council run things. Apparently the yellow circles represent coins… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/85 "2019-07-25T18:29:25Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Cornwall, England; we kinda have two, both dead simple, both largely black. > > One for the [county](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Piran's_Flag), one for the [Duchy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Duke_of_Cornwall.svg)… Is it an optical illusion, or are the balls in the top row smaller than the single ball on the bottom? ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/86 "2019-07-25T20:25:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is it an optical illusion, or are the balls in the top row smaller than the single ball on the bottom? Hmm… Good point- the circles (apparently supposed to represent coins) in the top row do look smaller than the rest. I think that may be an error, as that doesn’t seem to be the case for other versions I’ve seen. Googling it though, there are a few more pictures with the top row smaller, although most don’t. Interesting. There is no flag so simple that someone can’t screw it up. ---
**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 25, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/87 "2019-07-25T23:05:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Is it an optical illusion, or are the balls in the top row smaller than the single ball on the bottom? It’s not an optical illusion; I just took a screen shot and played around with Paint, and the circles in the top row really are smaller than the ones on the bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_B](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jim_b/32/4338_2.png) [@Jim\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_B)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/88 "2019-07-25T23:10:58Z")
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned it yet. But Detroit sure has a city flag. [Here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Detroit). I don’t know if I ever said this before. I have lived in Detroit since I was born. Yeah, some people think the Latin motto _It Shall Rise From the Ashes_ has proven prophetic on more than one occasion. I don’t believe in magic or fate. But still, why not? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/89 "2019-07-25T23:46:45Z")
> [@Jim\_B](#): > > I don’t know if anyone has mentioned it yet. But Detroit sure has a city flag. [Here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Detroit). > > I don’t know if I ever said this before. I have lived in Detroit since I was born. > > Yeah, some people think the Latin motto _It Shall Rise From the Ashes_ has proven prophetic on more than one occasion. I don’t believe in magic or fate. But still, why not? > > 🙂 Ugly-ass flag, but I have an affinity for Detroit, and I do feel it will rise again. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/90 "2019-07-26T02:41:11Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > It’s not an optical illusion; I just took a screen shot and played around with Paint, and the circles in the top row really are smaller than the ones on the bottom. Thanks. I won’t run off to my eye doctor just yet, then. The blazon apparently doesn’t say the circles should be of different sizes: [Coat of arms of the Prince of Wales - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_the_Prince_of_Wales#Arms_of_the_Duchy_of_Cornwall) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/91 "2019-07-26T04:23:36Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > Another place I don’t live but that I think has a cool flag and that I don’t think anyone else has mentioned yet is [Pittsburgh](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Flag_of_Pittsburgh%2C_Pennsylvania.svg/800px-Flag_of_Pittsburgh%2C_Pennsylvania.svg.png). Not only is it a cool flag, but it’s why all of our sports teams are black and gold. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/92 "2019-09-12T18:30:29Z")
I’ve lived here a long time, didn’t realize we had a flag. I would have guessed it would feature something that bites, stings, or pokes. > [@cochrane](#): > > 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. YIKES!!! A vexillologist"s nightmare. Looks more like a postcard than a flag. ---
**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:** [September 12, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/93 "2019-09-12T19:58:01Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > It may seem weird, but the City of Lethbridge’s flag is based on the American Stars and Stripes: > > [Flag of Lethbridge - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Lethbridge) > > It makes sense, though: our city traces its history back to American whisky traders, who came into what is now southern Alberta, in about 1870, in order to trade with the local natives. Hence, “Fort Whoop-Up,” the name of one of the earliest settlements. The RCMP didn’t arrive to calm things down until 1874 or so. > > There is other symbolism present in Lethbridge’s flag, but it has been worked into a design that was obviously influenced by the Stars and Stripes. No disrespect intended for your city or its many fine citizens,\*\* Spoons\*\*, but that is one _crap-ass_ flag. Far too busy, and visually disorganized, what with the blue and white geometric design in the canton, and the different sizes of stripes in the field. Whoosh, that’s a mess. > [@MEBuckner](#): > > (snip) > Another place I don’t live but that I think has a cool flag and that I don’t think anyone else has mentioned yet is [Pittsburgh](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Flag_of_Pittsburgh%2C_Pennsylvania.svg/800px-Flag_of_Pittsburgh%2C_Pennsylvania.svg.png). > > … That would be pretty cool, were it not for the blue and white bar chequy in the middle of the blazon. That, combined with the yellow and black, puts me in mind of a taxicab. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/95 "2019-09-12T21:47:48Z")
Charlotte has two. One is the official flag and the other is basically the logo of the city government. [![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina#/media/File:Two_official_flags_of_Charlotte,_North_Carolina.png) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina#/media/File:Two_official_flags_of_Charlotte,_North_Carolina.png) ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2019, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/96 "2019-09-12T23:12:13Z")
Montreal has a very distinctive flag. Until two years ago it was cut in four by a read cross. The four corners represented the 4 founding ethnic groups: A fleur-de-lys for the French, a rose for the English, a shamrock for the Irish, and a thistle for the Scots. Two years ago (I discovered this just now when a googled it) they added a pine tree symbolizing the natives in the middle where the two arms of the cross meet. Representatives of the native groups chose the symbol. > **[Flag of Montreal | Current flag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Montreal#Current_flag)** > > On February 12, 2017, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre announced a modification to the flag of Montreal to include a First Nations symbol. The decision was made in 2017 during the city's 375th anniversary of the founding of the city. The symbol was chosen by the First Nations communities of Montreal, those being Haudenosaunee and Algonquin although there are large Inuit, Métis and Anishinaabeg populations. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/97 "2019-11-05T22:16:15Z")
Just learned that Tennessee’s legislature has its own flag. Any other state legislatures have their own flags? > **[Tennessee General Assembly](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_General_Assembly#/media/File:Flag_of_the_General_Assembly_of_Tennessee.svg)** > > The Tennessee General Assembly (TNGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is a part-time bicameral legislature consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Speaker of the Senate carries the additional title and office of Lieutenant Governor of Tennessee. In addition to passing a budget for state government plus other legislation, the General Assembly appoints three state officers specified by the state constitution. It is also the initiating body in any pro... I know the U.S. House and Senate do: > **[United States House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives#/media/File:Flag_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives.svg)** > > Minority (212) > Vacant (1) > **[United States Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate#/media/File:Flag_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg)** > > Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}38°53′26″N 77°0′32″W / 38.89056°N 77.00889°W / 38.89056; -77.00889 > > > Minority (49) > The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Toget... ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2019, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/98 "2019-11-05T22:26:27Z")
[Boise’s](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/us-idboi.html) is apparently just a blue-and-white image of the capitol building with some trees around it with text in front of it. Because we’re the state capital and called “the city of trees” and all. For most of my life it was a just the state seal, which was a somewhat busy affair with two dudes standing around a heraldic shield with some other stuff around it. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/99 "2019-11-06T03:44:34Z")
The [City of Sacramento](https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/u/us-cascm.gif) official flag. Apparently the two blue fields represent the two rivers that flow through the city, the green area represents the city’s agriculture heritage, and the gold area represents…well…gold. I can’t recall ever seeing the flag being flown anywhere in the city. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/100 "2019-11-06T09:16:30Z")
Tampa can’t use the 1970s as an excuse. The flag has been this spectacularly bad since 1930. (Not “my” city, but shouldn’t go unmentioned) > **[Flag of Tampa, Florida](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Tampa,_Florida)** > > The city flag of Tampa, Florida, is not well known although it was adopted by the city on July 1, 1930. The many pieces of the unique flag portray the various elements that made the city itself a success. The flag is one of the few non-quadrilateral flags in use. > Although Tampa was named in 1849, it took almost 100 years for a flag to be created. Mayor D.B. McKay introduced the design to the city's multi-national heritage. In turn he presented the banner to the board of Representatives and recom... ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2019, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318/101 "2019-11-06T13:34:46Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > 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. I came here to post this too. I rarely see this flag flying. [This SF Examiner (newspaper) article is trying to change The City’s flag — it shows the flag flying](https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/its-time-for-a-new-san-francisco-flag/). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-your-city-have-a-flag-what-does-it-look-like/837318.md?page=6)