U.S. state · AZ
Flag of Arizona
The Arizona flag is split into two halves: 13 red and gold rays above a blue lower field, with a large copper-colored star in the center. It is one of the most distinctive U.S. state flags.
What the Arizona state flag looks like
The upper half of the flag shows 13 rays that fan out from the center, alternating between red and light yellow (gold): seven red and six yellow. The lower half is a plain field of blue. Where the two halves meet, in the middle of the flag, sits a large copper-colored five-pointed star.
The flag has 2:3 proportions. It has no words or seal, so the colors and the star carry the whole design. The rays run to the edges of the flag like a sunburst, while the blue below is the same shade as the blue in the U.S. flag. By statute, the star's upper points are one foot from the top of the flag and its lower points one foot from the bottom.
Arizona flag meaning and symbolism
Each element has a commonly given meaning:
- 13 rays stand for the 13 original colonies. They are also said to evoke the rays of the setting sun over the Arizona desert.
- Red and gold are described in official state materials as the colors carried by Coronado's expedition of 1540, and they also match the colors of the Spanish flag in homage to early Spanish explorers.
- Blue is the shade used in the U.S. flag, often called liberty blue.
- The copper star identifies Arizona as the largest copper-producing state in the United States and symbolizes its mining industry.
The 13 stripes question comes up often, but the rays are not stripes. They are narrow rays of color, and their number comes from the original colonies.
History of the Arizona flag
Arizona became the 48th state in 1912, but the flag came from a rifle team banner. Colonel Charles W. Harris of the Arizona National Guard, captain of the unit's rifle team in 1910, was chiefly responsible for the rifle team flag, because the Arizona team at the Camp Perry, Ohio, competition was the only one without an emblem. Several other people also appear to have played a part in the design of the first state flag, including W. R. Stewart of Mesa, Rachael Berry and Carl Hayden.
The 3rd Arizona Legislature adopted it on 27 February 1917, and it became law without the signature of Governor Thomas Campbell. In a 2001 North American Vexillological Association poll it ranked sixth of 72 North American flags for design quality.
Interesting facts
- The state motto, Ditat Deus, is Latin for "God enriches." It appears on the state seal and not on the flag.
- Unlike many state flags, it carries no seal, so it stays clear and recognizable even from far away.
- New Mexico's flag also uses a sun symbol with red and yellow, but it is a different design.
For more, see all U.S. state flags, including New Mexico, or the flag of the United States.
Arizona flag colors
#00205BRGB
0, 32, 91CMYK
100, 65, 0, 64#BF0A30RGB
191, 10, 48CMYK
0, 95, 75, 25#FED700RGB
254, 215, 0CMYK
0, 15, 100, 0#CE5C17RGB
206, 92, 23CMYK
0, 55, 89, 19Arizona flag facts
| Adopted | February 27, 1917 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Symbols | five-pointed star |
| State capital | Phoenix |
| State motto | Ditat Deus |
| Population | 7,151,502 |
Arizona state flag FAQ
What is the meaning behind the Arizona flag?
The 13 rays stand for the original 13 colonies and are also described as the setting sun. The red and gold recall Coronado's expedition and the Spanish colors, the blue matches the U.S. flag, and the copper star honors the state's copper industry.
Why does the Arizona flag have 13 rays?
The 13 red and gold rays represent the original thirteen colonies of the United States. They are rays, not stripes, and they are also described as the rays of the setting sun.
What does the blue on the Arizona flag mean?
The blue lower half is the same shade of blue used on the American flag, sometimes called liberty blue.
Why is there a copper star on the Arizona flag?
The star is copper-colored because Arizona is the largest copper producer in the United States.
When was the Arizona state flag adopted?
The design began as a rifle team flag around the 1910 competition at Camp Perry, and the legislature adopted it officially on 27 February 1917.
What does the Arizona flag look like?
The top half shows 13 rays spreading from the center, alternating red and gold: seven red and six light yellow. The bottom half is plain blue. A large copper-colored five-pointed star sits where the halves meet. The flag has 2:3 proportions and no text or seal, which makes it easy to recognize.
What are the colors of the Arizona flag?
The Arizona flag uses red, gold (light yellow), blue and copper. Red and gold recall Coronado's expedition of 1540 and the Spanish colors, while the blue is the same shade as the blue in the U.S. flag. The star is copper-colored for the state's mining industry. State law says the red and blue match the U.S. flag.
