Origins and Design of the Colorado State Flag
The Colorado state flag was first introduced in 1911. Designed by Andrew Carlisle Johnson and approved by the Colorado State General Assembly, the flag features three horizontal stripes of equal width—blue on the top and bottom, and white in the middle. Centered over the stripes is a red circular “C” filled with a golden disc.
Each color on the flag carries symbolic meaning. The blue represents Colorado’s wide, open skies. The white symbolizes the snow-capped peaks of the Rocky Mountains. The red stands for the state’s distinctive earth-colored soil, and the gold represents the abundant sunshine Colorado enjoys throughout the year.
The Devil’s in the Details
The original 1911 legislation establishing the state flag lacked several key design specifications. As a result, early versions of the Colorado flag varied in color and proportions. To correct this, the General Assembly revised the legislation on February 28, 1929, clarifying that the red and blue colors must match those used in the United States flag.
Later, on March 31, 1964, lawmakers made another adjustment, officially defining the diameter of the gold disc within the red “C.” It was specified to be equal to the width of the white center stripe—standardizing the design that Coloradans know and recognize today.
Colorado Ranked 16th in NAVA Flag Survey
Colorado’s state flag has earned recognition for its distinctive and meaningful design. In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) conducted a survey ranking 72 flags from U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and territories based on design appeal. The survey collected feedback from 100 NAVA members and 300 members of the public, using a 0–10 scale.
Colorado’s flag ranked an impressive 16th place overall. Top honors went to New Mexico, Texas, and Quebec. According to NAVA, a well-designed flag should be simple, distinctive, and easily recognizable at a glance—qualities the Colorado flag embodies. Fun fact: Colorado is also the only state to incorporate its complete flag design into its official highway markers.
Telluride and the Shredding of a Flag
One of the most unusual moments in the Colorado flag’s history occurred in 1990 in Telluride. A local man named Patrick Ray tore down and shredded a state flag at the town’s post office. He was arrested under Colorado’s flag desecration law and fined $56, along with $12.10 to cover the cost of the flag. The incident remains a curious footnote in the state’s flag history—an example of how deeply people connect with this enduring symbol of Colorado pride.
From legislative oversights to design refinements, public acclaim, and even controversy, the Colorado state flag has experienced quite a journey since its debut in 1911. Today, it stands as one of the most recognizable and admired state flags in the nation.