The State Flag of Colorado

Read about the fascinating history of the Colorado state flag. Twists and turns, confusion of design, just what you would expect from a wild west town in the early 20th century.

History

In 1911, Andrew Johnson designed the Colorado state flag; however, as was the case for many states when adopting their new flag, the description was purely verbal; there were no accompanying illustrations. Thus, confusion arose as to the exact hue of blue and red that was used, as well as the size of the "C" that was the most prominent feature of the flag. After two decades of varying flag designs, the Colorado State Legislature clarified the description by saying that the red and the blue color was the same color as the red and the blue in the United States flag. It was not until 1964 that the Legislature finally codified the appropriate size of the "C" in the flag, saying that the golden disc (forming the interior circumference of the "C") should be the same diameter as the middle stripe on the flag.

Symbolism

The golden disc in the middle of the "C" on the flag represents both the sunny climate and the impact of the gold rush on the state's development. The white stripe symbolizes the snow-capped mountains, and the blue stripes, the clear skies. The reddish color of the "C" represents both the prevalent red dirt of the state, as well as the color of the Colorado River, which is named for its "ruddiness" in the original Spanish, and from which the state derives its name.

Colorado has one of the more interesting and surprising stories behind its state flag. After decades of uncertainty, the legislature finally decided on some important decisions regarding the design.