The design for the flag

Flag

A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...

 of the state of North Dakota is an almost exact copy of the unit banner carried by the state's troop contingent in the Philippine-American War

Philippine-American War

The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...

. It was adopted by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly

North Dakota Legislative Assembly

The North Dakota Legislative Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Dakota. The Legislative Assembly consists of two chambers, the lower North Dakota House of Representatives, with 94 representatives, and the upper North Dakota Senate, with 47 senators...

 on March 3, 1911, although the color was not precisely specified at that time. Legislation in 1943 brought the flag in line with the original troop banner, which is on display at the North Dakota Heritage Center

North Dakota Heritage Center

The North Dakota Heritage Center, located on the North Dakota State Capitol grounds in Bismarck, is the state of North Dakota's official history museum. The museum, which was opened in 1967 by the Heritage Center Commission, is operated by the State Historical Society of North Dakota and features...

 in Bismarck

Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...

. The flag also resembles the Great Seal of the United States

Great Seal of the United States

The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. The phrase is used both for the physical seal itself , and more generally for the design impressed upon it...

.

In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association

North American Vexillological Association

The North American Vexillological Association is a membership organization devoted to "vexillology as the scientific study of flags." Flag researchers, designers, collectors, activists, merchants, and other enthusiasts from the United States and Canada meet annually at NAVA meetings in order to...

 surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, U.S. territorial and Canadian provincial flags. NAVA members ranked North Dakota's flag 56th out of the 72.

The flag's official proportions are 33:26, significantly shorter than many other state flags; however, in practice, the flag is produced and sold in 5:3 ratios.

See also

• Flags of the Governors of the U.S. States
• State of North Dakota
  • Symbols of the state of North Dakota
    • Great Seal of the State of North Dakota

External links

• Information about flag - State of North Dakota official website