Flag of Arkansas
The Arkansas flag is a red field with a large white diamond edged in blue. The word ARKANSAS and four blue stars sit inside the diamond, and 25 white stars ring its border. It was designed by Willie Kavanaugh Hocker in 1912.
What the Arkansas state flag looks like
The state flag of Arkansas has a red field with a white diamond in the center. A wide blue band runs around the inside of the diamond, and it carries 25 white stars. In the white center is the word ARKANSAS in blue capital letters. One blue star sits above the name, and three blue stars sit below it.
The colors are red, white and blue, the same as the U.S. flag, and the proportions are 2:3. Of all the state flags, Arkansas is one of the few built around a diamond.
Arkansas flag meaning and symbolism
The pieces of the design have specific meanings:
- The diamond recalls the fact that Arkansas has the only diamond-producing site in the country that is open to the public, the Crater of Diamonds near Murfreesboro.
- The 25 white stars mark Arkansas as the 25th state to join the Union, in 1836.
- The four blue stars are tied to the area's history of changing governments. The original three are explained as Spain, France and the United States, and a fourth star was added above the name in 1923.
- Red, white and blue echo the national colors.
History of the Arkansas flag
Arkansas had no official flag until the early 20th century. In 1912 a state flag contest was organized, with the Daughters of the American Revolution among those involved. The winning entry came from Willie Kavanaugh Hocker, a young woman from Wabbaseka. Her design was adopted by the legislature on February 26, 1913.
Hocker's first version had a diamond and three blue stars. In 1923 the legislature added a fourth blue star above the name. The star count and layout have stayed the same since. The flag has not been redesigned since, and Arkansas has not adopted a replacement.
Interesting facts
- The state motto, Regnat populus, means "the people rule."
- The flag combines two sets of stars: 25 white ones on the border and four blue ones in the center.
- The flag is mostly red, which covers nearly two thirds of its area.
You can compare the design with other states in our list of U.S. state flags, such as Alabama, or the flag of the United States.
Arkansas flag colors
#BF0A30RGB
191, 10, 48CMYK
0, 95, 75, 25#FFFFFFRGB
255, 255, 255CMYK
0, 0, 0, 0#00205BRGB
0, 32, 91CMYK
100, 65, 0, 64Arkansas flag facts
| Adopted | 1924 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Designer | Willie Kavanaugh Hocker |
| State capital | Little Rock |
| State motto | Regnat populus |
| Population | 3,011,524 |
Arkansas state flag FAQ
Why does the Arkansas flag have 25 stars?
The 25 white stars around the diamond show that Arkansas was the 25th state admitted to the Union, in 1836.
What do the four blue stars on the Arkansas flag mean?
They are tied to the governments that have ruled the area. The original three are explained as Spain, France and the United States. A fourth blue star was added above the name in 1923.
Who designed the Arkansas flag?
Willie Kavanaugh Hocker of Wabbaseka designed it. Her entry won a state flag contest in 1912, and the legislature adopted it on February 26, 1913.
When did Arkansas change its flag?
The flag was adopted on February 26, 1913. It was modified in 1923, when a fourth blue star was added above the name.
What does the diamond on the Arkansas flag mean?
The diamond represents the Crater of Diamonds, the only public diamond site in the United States where visitors can keep what they find.
