flag of Utah
-
What is the flag of Utah?
The flag of Utah features unequal bands of dark blue, white, and red. A dark blue hexagon with a gold interior rim is at the center and contains a gold beehive over a small white star. The width-to-length ratio is 3 to 5.
The new design, nicknamed the Beehive Flag, was selected by a task force in 2022 and took effect on March 9, 2024. The dark blue band at the top of the flag is symbolic of the state’s skies and lakes. The white band in the middle, with its jagged top, represents the state’s snow-capped mountains. The red band at the bottom of the flag symbolizes the red-rock canyons in the state’s southern region.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What colors are found on the Utah state flag?
The Utah state flag features unequal bands of dark blue, white, and red. A dark blue hexagon in the flag's center has a gold interior rim and contains a gold beehive over a small white star.
The colors are symbolic: the dark blue represents Utah's skies and lakes, the white band with a jagged top symbolizes the state’s snow-capped mountains, and the red band represents the red-rock canyons of southern Utah. The gold interior rim signifies prosperity.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What symbols are shown on the Utah state flag?
The Utah state flag features unequal bands of dark blue, white, and red. A dark blue hexagon with a gold rim is at the flag's center. Inside the hexagon is a gold beehive over a small white star. The beehive symbolizes the state's history, community, and motto of "Industry." The white star represents Utah's statehood in 1896 and loyalty to the U.S.. The dark blue band symbolizes Utah’s skies and lakes. The white band, with its jagged top, represents the state’s snow-capped mountains, and the red band symbolizes the red-rock canyons in southern Utah. The beehive represents the industrious nature of the people.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What do the symbols on the Utah flag mean?
The Utah state flag features unequal bands of dark blue, white, and red. A dark blue hexagon with a gold rim in the flag's center contains a gold beehive above a small white star.
Here's what the symbols mean:
* Dark blue band Symbolic of Utah's skies and lakes
* White band Represents the state’s snow-capped mountains
* Red band Symbolizes the red-rock canyons in the state’s southern region
* Gold beehive Represents Utah's history, community, and the state motto, "Industry." The beehive symbol is derived from the sacred Book of Mormon, where "Deseret" means "honeybee".
* Small white star Represents the star added to the U.S. flag when Utah became a state in 1896 and symbolizes the state’s loyalty to the country.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How has the Utah state flag changed over time?
The flag of Utah has changed over time through several key revisions:
- Early designs Utah’s early flags incorporated the state seal, which was adopted in 1850 and modified in 1896 by Harry Edwards, adding a bald eagle and U.S. flags. The seal included important dates and symbols related to the state's history.
- 1911 Flag Adoption On March 9, 1911, Utah adopted a flag featuring the state seal in white. A modification with full color and a gold ring led to a law change on March 11, 1913.
- 2011 Revision As the centennial of the 1911 flag approached, the Utah legislature endorsed a revised design that more closely represented the 1913 version, including specific color shades. The flag was officially adopted on March 16, 2011.
- 2024 Beehive Flag In 2021, a task force was formed to select a new flag design. The new design, nicknamed the Beehive Flag, was selected in 2022, approved in 2023, and took effect on March 9, 2024.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
When was the most recent design of Utah's state flag adopted, and why was it changed?
Utah's most recent flag design, nicknamed the Beehive Flag, was approved by the legislature and governor in 2023 and officially adopted on March 9, 2024. This updated flag features a dark blue band at the top, symbolizing Utah's skies and lakes, a white band with a jagged top to represent the state’s snow-capped mountains, and a red band at the bottom, which symbolizes the red-rock canyons of southern Utah. A dark blue hexagon with a gold rim contains a gold beehive and a small white star, which represents Utah's history, community, and loyalty to the U.S.
The change was initiated in 2021 when the state government formed a task force to oversee the selection of a new flag design, incorporating public and expert input.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Utah’s early flag designs incorporated the state seal. The design of the seal was adopted in 1850 by the Territory of Utah and modified by the artist Harry Edwards when Utah became a state in 1896. He added a bald eagle and crossed U.S. flags to indicate the protection of the United States and Utah’s loyalty to the nation. The inscribed dates 1847 and 1896 refer, respectively, to the settlement of the original Mormon community at Salt Lake City and the achievement of statehood. The word industry is reinforced by a beehive; Deseret, the Mormon settlers’ name for the territory, means “honeybee.” On either side of the beehive are sego lilies (the state flower), which are said to be a symbol of peace; they recall that early inhabitants often were forced to eat the bulbs of the lily when other food was unavailable.
On March 9, 1911, Utah adopted a flag proposed by the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The official design featured the central emblem of the state seal in white, but a sample flag that was to be presented to the warship USS Utah incorporated that design in full color with a narrow gold ring around it. The favorable reaction to this unauthorized modification led to a change in the law on March 11, 1913. The new flag, widely promoted by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (a cultural organization similar to the DAR), remained unaltered for nearly a century.
Flag makers over the years frequently misrepresented some of the details in the Utah state seal, obliterating or modifying various emblems. As the centennial of the 1911 Utah flag adoption approached, efforts were made to produce an official artistic rendition of the flag and state seal that more closely represented the 1913 version of the flag and included details of color shades. This revised design was endorsed by the Utah legislature in February 2011, and the flag was officially adopted on March 16, 2011.
" height="20" alt="HEW Logo">
In 2021 the state government formed a task force to oversee the selection of a new flag design, the process of which included soliciting input from the public as well as from design experts. A new design, nicknamed the Beehive Flag, was selected by the task force in 2022, approved by the legislature and governor in 2023, and took effect on March 9, 2024. The new flag features a dark blue band at the top of the flag, symbolic of the state’s skies and lakes. The white band in the middle, with its jagged top, represents the state’s snow-capped mountains. The red band at the bottom of the flag symbolizes the red-rock canyons in the state’s southern region. A dark blue hexagon at the center of the flag, with a gold interior rim symbolizing prosperity, contains a gold beehive representing the state’s history as well as a sense of community and the state motto of “Industry.” Below that is a small white five-point star, representing the star that was added to the U.S. flag when Utah became a state in 1896 and symbolic of the state’s loyalty to the country. When the Beehive Flag came into effect, the previous design was given the status of “historic state flag,” with provisions made for its continued display alongside the new flag.