Flag of Vermont
The Vermont flag is a deep blue field with the state coat of arms in the center. It shows a pine tree, a cow, wheat sheaves and green mountains, with a stag's head on top and the motto "Freedom and Unity".
What the Vermont flag looks like
The state flag of Vermont is a solid blue rectangle with the coat of arms in the middle. The shield contains a large pine tree in front of a landscape, with a cow and three sheaves of wheat at its base and the green mountains in the background. Two pine branches curve around the sides, and the head of a red deer, a stag, rests on top.
A ribbon under the shield reads Vermont, and a second ribbon carries the state motto, Freedom and Unity. The colors are blue, green, red, gold and white, and the flag is shown in 5:3 proportions.
Vermont flag meaning and symbolism
The shield presents the main parts of the state's early life. The pine tree stands for the forests, the cow for dairy farming, and the sheaves of wheat for crops. The green mountains in the background give the state its name, Vermont coming from the French words for green mountain. The branches around the shield are pine boughs, and the stag's head refers to the wildlife of the state.
The motto Freedom and Unity reflects Vermont's independence and its membership in the Union. The blue field echoes the blue of the U.S. flag. To compare it with other designs, see all U.S. state flags.
History of the Vermont flag
Vermont declared itself an independent republic in 1777 and joined the United States in 1791 as the fourteenth state. The coat of arms dates from that time and is credited to Ira Allen, one of the founders of the state.
In 1837 the state adopted a flag with the arms on a field of stripes in the style of the American flag. This was replaced in 1923, when the legislature approved the current flag. The older design was changed because it looked too much like the national flag, and the change is said to have come after confusion between Vermont units and U.S. units during World War I. The 1923 flag put the arms on a plain blue background, which has remained unchanged since.
The flag is flown beside the flag of the United States at the State House in Montpelier.
Vermont flag colors
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0, 51, 102CMYK
100, 50, 0, 60Vermont flag facts
| Adopted | 1923 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 3:5 |
| State capital | Montpelier |
| Population | 643,077 |
Vermont state flag FAQ
Why did Vermont change its flag?
The earlier flag, with the coat of arms in a striped field, looked too much like the American flag. In 1923 the state replaced it with the arms on a plain blue background.
What tree is on the Vermont flag?
A pine tree stands at the center of the coat of arms. Pine branches also frame the shield on both sides.
What is the Vermont state motto?
The state motto is Freedom and Unity. It appears on a ribbon at the bottom of the coat of arms.
What happened to the Vermont Republic?
Vermont was an independent republic from 1777 until 1791, when it joined the United States as the fourteenth state.
