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.
- Gold represents the abundant sunshine, and also recalls the mining that brought settlers to Colorado.
- Red stands for the red soil and rock found in the region.
The letter C stands for Colorado, a Spanish word meaning "colored red," and it can also be read as a reference to the "Centennial State," since Colorado joined the Union in 1876, a hundred years after the Declaration of Independence. The gold disk is often interpreted as the sun.
History of the Colorado flag
Colorado became the 38th state in 1876, but it went decades without an official flag. The idea was taken up by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a design by Andrew Carlisle Carson, a Denver artist, was chosen. The state legislature 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 fix the colors, and in 1964 the legislature set the official blue and red to match the shades in the flag of the United States. The design has otherwise stayed the same.
A frequently asked question is whether Colorado changed its flag. It did not adopt a new design. Only the color standards and some details of the specifications were updated, so the flag flying today is the same as 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 it may be lowered to half-staff on the governor's order as a mark of mourning.
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 | 1964 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 2:3 |
| Symbols | C/c, fess, roundel, field |
| 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 does the Colorado flag symbolize?
Blue is the sky, white is the snow on the 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 standardized in 1929 and 1964.
Who designed the Colorado flag?
Andrew Carlisle Carson, a Denver artist, designed the flag in 1910 and 1911, and the legislature adopted it on June 5, 1911.
Does Colorado have 697 sides?
No. That is an internet joke. Colorado is bounded by lines of latitude and longitude, which gives it a rectangular outline, and it is often called a perfect rectangle.
