U.S. state · CO
Flag of Colorado
The Colorado flag has three equal horizontal stripes of blue, white and blue, with a large red letter C enclosing a golden disk. It was adopted in 1911.
What the Colorado state flag looks like
The state flag of Colorado is a rectangle with proportions of 2:3. It has three horizontal stripes of equal width: blue at the top, white in the middle and blue at the bottom. Placed slightly toward the hoist (the side nearest the pole) is a red letter C. Inside the open curve of the C sits a gold disk.
The C is a bold, round shape that is large enough to extend over the blue stripes above and below the white one. The flag has no text and no seal, which keeps the design simple and easy to recognize.
Colorado flag meaning and symbolism
The symbolism is well documented, and most of it is tied to the landscape:
- Blue represents the clear skies of the state.
- White stands for the snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains, and also for silver and the silver mining industry.
- Gold represents the abundant sunshine, and also gold and the gold mining industry.
- Red stands for the "ruddy" earth that covers much of the state.
The letter C stands for Colorado, a Spanish word meaning "colored red," and it also stands for "centennial," since Colorado became a state in 1876, the year of the United States' centennial, and for "columbine," the state flower. The blue and white together also recall the colors of the columbine.
History of the Colorado flag
Colorado became a state in 1876 and had a state banner showing the coat of arms on a blue field from 1907, but the current flag only came in 1911. The Denver chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution began the effort in 1910, and a design by Andrew Carlisle Carson, president of the Ohio Society of Colorado, proved far more popular than their first proposal. The legislature passed it in April and May 1911 and officially adopted it on June 5, 1911.
The original law did not give exact colors, and flags were made in different shades. The statute was revised in 1929 to say that the blue and red match the colors of the flag of the United States, and in 1964 the legislature set the size and position of the C and the gold disk.
A frequently asked question is whether Colorado changed its flag. It did not adopt a new design. Only the color standards and the size of the C and disk were specified later, so the flag flying today follows the 1911 design.
Flag rules and etiquette in Colorado
The Colorado flag follows the usual customs for state flags: it is flown below the U.S. flag when the two are displayed together, and the governor may order it lowered to half-staff as a mark of mourning. It is always lowered to half-staff on Memorial Day (raised at noon), September 11 and National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
For more, browse all U.S. state flags, including California, or read about the flag of the United States.
Colorado flag colors
#00205BRGB
0, 32, 91CMYK
100, 65, 0, 64#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0#BF0A30RGB
191, 10, 48CMYK
0, 95, 75, 25#FFD700RGB
255, 215, 0CMYK
0, 16, 100, 0Colorado flag facts
| Adopted | June 5, 1911 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Designer | Andrew Carlisle Carson |
| Symbols | roundel |
| State capital | Denver |
| State motto | Nil sine numine |
| Population | 5,773,714 |
Colorado state flag FAQ
What does the C stand for in the Colorado flag?
The C stands for Colorado. The name is Spanish for "colored red," and the letter is red to match. It can also recall that Colorado is called the Centennial State.
What is the meaning behind the Colorado state flag?
Blue is the sky, white is the snow-capped mountains, gold is the sunshine and red is the red earth. The colors tie the flag to the state's natural features.
Did Colorado get a new state flag?
No. The design was adopted in 1911 and has not been replaced. Its colors were specified in 1929, and the size of the C and disk in 1964.
Who designed the Colorado flag?
Andrew Carlisle Carson, president of the Ohio Society of Colorado, designed the flag, and the legislature adopted it on June 5, 1911.
Why did Colorado change their flag?
Colorado's first official emblem, a 1907 state banner, was just the coat of arms on a dark blue field. In 1910 the Denver chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, unaware of it, set out to design a flag. Andrew Carlisle Carson's design proved far more popular and became law on June 5, 1911. Later laws in 1929 and 1964 only fixed colors and sizes.
What is the official flag of Colorado?
The official flag is the 1911 design: three equal horizontal stripes of blue, white and blue, with a red letter C holding a golden disk. It has 2:3 proportions, and the blue and red must match the colors of the U.S. flag. State law also calls for a gold and silver cord with tassels attached to the flag.
