North Carolina has an official flag. Also known simply as the North Star, it features a vertical blue union on the left, followed by a red horizontal stripe and a white horizontal stripe on the right. Within the blue union are the letters “N” and “C,” which are separated by a star.
With its combination of red, white and blue colors, the North Carolina flag is attractive. You can find it displayed throughout the Southeastern state. What’s the history behind the North Carolina flag exactly?
Origins of the North Carolina Flag
During its early years, North Carolina didn’t have an official flag. It wasn’t until 1861 when a proposal was made to adopt an official flag.
In 1861, the North Carolinian state constitutional convention established a committee to design an official flag. During that same year, an official flag was recognized. This initial version shared many of the same features as the current North Carolina flag. It had a vertical stripe on the left and two horizontal stripes on the right. And like the current North Carolina flag, the initial version consisted of red, white and blue colors.
The Flag Statute of 1885
North Carolina changed its flag in 1885. This new version replaced the red field with a blue field. It also added the letters “N” and “C” to the field. As you may have guessed, these letters represent the state’s name. The initial version of the North Carolina flag only featured a star with the date “May 20, 1775” above it and the date “May 20, 1861” below it. The new version adopted in 1885 retained the star and the two dates. But it added the letters “N” and “C” to represent the state’s name.
When comparing the old North Carolina flag to the new one, you’ll notice that the colors are different on the horizontal stripes. Both versions feature a color scheme consisting of red, white and blue. The first version of the North Carolina flag, though, had a blue horizontal stripe and a white horizontal stripe on the right-hand side. In Flag Statue of 1885 called for a new design consisting of a red horizontal stripe and a white horizontal stripe on the right-hand side.
The North Carolina Flag Today
North Carolina continues to use the same design as specified in the Flag Statute of 1885 for its official flag. It has only changed the design once throughout the state’s flag. That change, of course, was made over a century ago with the Flag Statute of 1885.
