U.S. state · DE
Flag of Delaware
The Delaware flag is colonial blue with a buff-colored diamond that holds the state coat of arms. Beneath the diamond is the date December 7, 1787, the day Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
What the Delaware state flag looks like
The state flag of Delaware has a field of colonial blue and a large buff-colored diamond in the center. Inside the diamond is the Delaware coat of arms, which shows:
- a shield with a sheaf of wheat, an ear of corn and an ox standing on grass;
- a farmer with a hoe on one side of the shield and a rifleman on the other;
- a sailing ship above the shield;
- a ribbon beneath, reading "Liberty and Independence."
Under the diamond, in white letters, is the date "December 7, 1787." The flag is 2:3 in proportion. The blue and buff colors are the main colors of the design, with some green in the grass and the details of the arms.
Delaware flag meaning and symbolism
The elements of the Delaware flag all come from the state coat of arms and its history:
- Wheat, corn and the ox all represent Delaware's agriculture.
- The farmer and the rifleman are the two supporters of the shield, the farmer on the left and the soldier on the right.
- The ship is the sailing ship above the shield, part of the coat of arms and the state seal.
- The date marks the day in 1787 when Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution, which is why Delaware is nicknamed the First State.
The colors of the flag reflect the colors of the uniform of General George Washington.
History of the Delaware flag
The coat of arms on the flag was adopted on January 17, 1787. Before there was an official flag, state flags usually showed the coat of arms on a plain blue field, and Delaware regiments in the Civil War flew a similar flag with the regiment's name on it.
A commission to create a state flag was formed in February 1913, and the current flag was adopted on July 24, 1913. The design places the coat of arms in a buff diamond on a colonial blue field, with the ratification date beneath it. The official colors are defined in Delaware law.
Interesting facts
- Delaware's motto, Liberty and Independence, is in English and appears on the ribbon of the coat of arms.
- The state is small in area, but it ratified the Constitution before every other state, five days before Pennsylvania.
You can compare it with other U.S. state flags, such as Connecticut, or view the flag of the United States.
Delaware flag colors
#669CA4RGB
102, 156, 164CMYK
38, 5, 0, 36#C7A97FRGB
199, 169, 127CMYK
0, 15, 36, 22#586538RGB
88, 101, 56CMYK
13, 0, 45, 60Delaware flag facts
| Adopted | July 24, 1913 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| State capital | Dover |
| State motto | Liberty and Independence |
| Population | 989,948 |
Delaware state flag FAQ
What does the Delaware flag symbolize?
The coat of arms shows the state's agriculture, with a farmer and a rifleman as supporters and a ship above the shield. The date December 7, 1787 marks the day Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution.
Why is December 7, 1787 on the Delaware flag?
That is the day Delaware ratified the U.S. Constitution, becoming the first state of the Union.
What are the colors of the Delaware flag?
The flag uses colonial blue for the field and buff for the diamond, along with white lettering and the colors of the coat of arms.
When was the Delaware flag adopted?
The current flag was adopted on July 24, 1913. The coat of arms on it was adopted on January 17, 1787.
Does Delaware have another state flag?
The state flag is the colonial blue flag with the buff diamond. The governor has an official flag that is identical to it, except that it has a gold fringe around the edge.
What is Delaware's nickname?
Delaware is called the First State. It earned the name by being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, on December 7, 1787, the date written beneath the buff diamond on the flag. It is also known as the Blue Hen State, and the governor's flag is carried on a pole topped with a model of a blue hen's fighting cock.
Was Delaware one of the original 13 colonies?
Yes. Delaware was one of the Thirteen Colonies, and it became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787. That date appears on the state flag below the diamond holding the coat of arms. The flag itself came later, adopted on July 24, 1913, after a commission formed in February 1913.
