Delaware State Flag

State Flag of Delaware

Many of the first American states went through their early history without a state flag, and Delaware was no exception. The state flag of Delaware came into official use during the earliest part of the 20th century, although the state's military units used a similar flag more than fifty years before it became an official symbol of the state.

Colors and Symbolism of the State Flag of Delaware

The Delaware state flag has a field of colonial blue that displays a buff diamond in the center and the date that the state ratified the nation's constitution along the bottom. The diamond surrounds the state's coat of arms, which consists of a soldier and a farmer supporting a shield that displays wheat, corn, and an ox. A ship is placed above the shield, and the state's motto is placed below it.

Each piece of the state coat of arms reflects an important part of the state's economy or history. Wheat and corn dominated the state's early agricultural development, while the ox emphasizes the importance of animals to Delaware's early colonists. The ship reflects the state's history as an important center of trade, while the farmer and soldier reflect the two most important roles that free colonists played in the state's early history.

History of the Delaware State Flag

There was no state flag of Delaware for the majority of the state's history, but the coat of arms that is featured on the modern flag is nearly as old the the nation. Delaware adopted its coat of arms in 1777, and the state government used that coat of arms as its primary symbol until the flag came into use.

The modern Delaware state flag developed out of the battle flags of the American Civil War. Each regiment in the war used a flag that represented its state of origin, and the Delaware regiments used a design that bears a strong resemblance to the modern flag. It featured the state's coat of arms on a solid blue field. The government of Delaware eventually adopted the modern flag for civilian use in 1913. The flag has been used ever since that time without undergoing any changes.

A short history of the Delaware State flag
Delaware was one of the thirteen states of the U.S.A and is named after Lord de la Warr. He was Governor of Virginia from 1610-1618. The coat of arms reflects the agricultural, which dates from 1777. The shield depicting a wheatsheaf, an ear of corn and an ox is supported by a soldier and a farmer. The crest of a ship in full sail is represented because of Delaware being a maritime state. The diamond shape was added after the flag was officially adopted in July 1913.

A short history of Delaware (The Diamond State)
First settled in 1631 by the Dutch, and then by the Swedes between 1638-55. During that time it was named "New Sweden". It passed to Britain in 1674 , and was a dependency of Pennsylvania until 1776. It then became a separate state, and the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, on December 7, 1787.

Area of Delaware: 2,044 sq. miles (second smallest state)
Capital: Dover
Major Products: Chemicals, transport equipment, processed food, livestock, corn, soybeans
State Motto: Liberty and Independence