I am a big fan of the two most recently designed state flags, those of Mississippi and Utah. Both are unique and eye-catching, two crucial elements in a successful flag design. I thought it would be fun to share my opinion about all of the state flags.
Let's start by placing the flags into three groups: Top Contenders, Middle of the Road, and Bottom of the Pack. To make it into the top group, the flag has to be identifiable as it is flying, with an attractive design. Unique colors and designs (and in one case, shape) are a major plus. The design should represent the state in some way. If there's text, it should be legible.
Here are my Top Contenders:
Here are my Top Contenders:
This is the middle group. Each of them gets points for being unique and/or recognizable, but falls short in other ways.
This is the Bottom of the Pack. Most of them are here because they are navy blue with an illegible and busy state seal on them. Alabama and Florida's flags look like international "Do Not Enter" signs. Not exactly the message their tourism bureaus are hoping to send. These flags are terrible.
Good news though - there is legislation to try to change the state flags of Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Illinois. (And possibly others, but those are the only ones I know about.) Minnesota just released its finalists for the new state flag and there are some great designs. Any of them would be a huge improvement over the current one.
So... naming the Worst State Flag. It's hard, as it's essentially a 10-way tie. Some of the flags are less awful than the others in this category, but they all need to be changed. If I'm forced to pick the worst of the worst, I'm going with Pennsylvania. Or Virginia.
As for the Best State Flag, it's not easy either. There are things to like about each of the flags in my top category. These are my runners-up.
That means that the title of Best State Flag goes to New Mexico. Their flag is simple yet meaningful, well-proportioned, instantly recognizable, and completely different than any other flag. By coincidence, New Mexico is one of my very favorite states.
If you'd like to see how other people have ranked the state flags, there are many others who have done so. I'm going to link one of my favorites below. If you don't follow CGP Grey, you should. His videos are always entertaining and informative.
What's your favorite state flag? What's your least favorite? Do you support redesigns of current state flags or are you among those who think the time and expense aren't worth it? Or perhaps you think flags should not be changed, no matter the reason? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
I have to show my bias right away, but I believe Tennessee has the best state flag. New Mexico does have a nice, bold design, which is a primary consideration in creating a flag. However, as a state flag, it also serves as a sort of billboard for your state. With its central device being a Native-American symbol, it tells you that New Mexico has a long history of population by indigenous peoples. This is a rich heritage to be sure, but it is not all there is to say about New Mexico. That is where the flag comes up short in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, the Tennessee state flag gives you more information about our state at first glance. The 3 stars contained in the central circle represents the three distinct areas of Tennessee. East, Middle, and West are all different in geography, but also in history and the people themselves. Yet, having the stars United by a circle shows how the people of the state can unite as one entity in times of trouble to come to the aid of the country. This is how we got our nickname "The Volunteer State". This is why our flag is designed in the patriotic colors of red, white, and blue. This is why I believe our state flag is better. I know in other trials it has been picked as the most eye-catching state flag, so it is not just my opinion alone. So much for my biased rant, but I had to stand up for Tennessee.
You bring up some excellent points. I appreciate the meaning behind the stars contained in a circle. However, I think the patriotic colors actually work against it. There is a lot of red, white, and blue amongst the 50 state flags. A big part of what appeals to me about New Mexico's flag how much it stands out from the rest. If Tennessee used, say, a light purple (red+white+blue) to represent patriotism and the coming together of its people, it would be more eye-catching and distinct.
DeleteI think South Carolina is the best.
DeleteYou may want to update the Minnesota flag. It has been replaced by an even uglier version that many MN Counties refuse to fly.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned in the post that the new Minnesota flag was coming. And actually, I really like the new flag. I blogged about it here: https://www.cindyderosier.com/2024/07/minnesota-has-new-state-flag.html
DeleteAgree with New Mexico as the winner although Arizona and it would tie in my book. No states better depict their history and environment.
ReplyDeleteBest list I've seen yet. Would agree it's NM, Alaska, AZ, Cali Colorado in that order
ReplyDelete