Flag of Texas
The flag of Texas consists of a single blue vertical stripe and two horizontal stripes of white and red. A white 5-pointed star, oriented to have one point facing upward, is located at the center of the blue stripe. This solitary star had given the flag its name, the “Lone Star Flag”.
Symbolism
Colors of the Texas flag as assigned by law are interpreted as follows:
- Blue: symbolizes loyalty
- Red: stands for bravery
- White: signifies purity
Specifications
The official description of the Texas flag, specifying the exact proportions of its elements, is also defined by the law. It is described as follows:
- The state flag is a rectangle with a width to length ratio of 2:3
- The single blue vertical stripe is 1/3 wide of the entire length of the flag
- The two horizontal stripes are of equal size, each 2/3 of the entire length of the flag
- The diameter of the circle passing through each point of the star is ¾ the width of the blue stripe
Color Specifications
The official Pantone colors for the Texas flag are:
- Red: 193
- Dark blue: 281
History
The Lone Star Flag was not the first flag to represent Texas. It had replaced the Burnet Flag which was the first national standard of the Republic of Texas. It was adopted on December10, 1836 by Texas President Sam Houston. The flag consisted of an azure background that featured a large golden star. It was inspired by the “Bonnie Blue Flag" of the Republic of Florida. The Burnet Flag flew over the Republic of Texas until January 29, 1839.
The Lone Star Flag was accepted as the national standard of the Republic of Texas on January 25, 1839. A bill that described the Lone Star as the national standard of Texas was presented by Senator William Wharton in the third Congress of the Republic on December 28, 1838. The bill was passed in congress and was later approved by Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar.
The early design of the flag was credited to several people - Sara Dodson, Joanna Troutman, Peter Krag, Charles Bellinger Stewart, and William Wharton. Nonetheless, it was long believed that the designer of the flag was unknown. However, this mystery was solved in 1997. Through House Resolution 1123, Montgomery County was commemorated as the birthplace of the Lone Star flag, and D. Charles B. Stewart's was acknowledged as the flag’s creator.
The Lone Star flag was adopted as the state flag when Texas became the 28 th state in 1845.
Origins of the Design
Many variants of the Lone Star flag had flown over Texas before it achieved its present design. One of the very first versions of the Lone Star flag that flew over Texas was during its struggle for independence from Mexico. In October 1835, the star was outlined on a white banner above a canon barrel when the fighting in Gonzales broke out.
December 1835 was when the Texans battled with the Mexicans. This happened at San Antonio de Bexar and this battle transpired under a flag that Sarah Dodson made. The flag was a long tricolor banner of red, white, and blue, with the 5-pointed star situated on a blue field.
At the Battle of Goliad, volunteers from Georgia fought under a flag sewn by Joanna Troutman. The flag featured a blue 5-pointed star on a white field, with the words, “Liberty or Death” inscribed below the star.
In May 1836, the fledgling Republic of Texas adopted the "Lorenzo de Zaval flag" as its standard. The flag consisted of a solid blue background with a white star at its center. The star was encircled by the letters T – E – X – A – S. Later in that same year, the Republic opted for another flag and adopted the "David G. Burnet flag". It also featured a solid blue background, with a golden 5-pointed star in the center.
As neither flags gained the support of the citizens, the government adopted the Lone Star flag designed by Dr. Charles Stewart on January 25, 1836.
