California State Flags
California was part of the Spanish and Mexican territories. California was the 31st state admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850. The National flag was redesigned to add another star, making the total 31, in the canton to represent the number of states in the Union. The California flag was also voted 11th best out of 51 Flags ranked by the North American Vexillological Association.
Why is California Called the Golden State?
Gold is actually one of the state of California’s official colours. Designated in 1951, the two state colours are gold and blue. Blue is representative of the sky and the sea, of which there is plenty in California, thanks to its expansive coastline and beautiful beaches, as well as its high mountains and open deserts.
"The Golden State" has long been a popular designation for California and was made the official State Nickname in 1968. It is particularly appropriate since California's modern development can be traced back to the discovery of gold in 1848 and fields of golden poppies can be seen each spring throughout the state. According to historical records, James Marshall was camped on the American River at Coloma, near Sacramento. He and his crew were building a saw mill for a fellow named John Sutter. On the morning of January 24, 1848, while making adjustments to the millrace, he found a few small nuggets of gold. "The Eldorado State" was the first nickname given to the state after the gold discovery. California is also called "The Land of Milk and Honey", a nickname promoting California as a land of opportunity with connections to "The Promised Land" of the Bible.
And, finally, the Golden Gate Bridge is also one of the reasons why California is referred to as the Golden State. This famous landmark is easily recognised in popular TV shows and movies that are set in San Francisco. Built in the 1930s, it’s a large red bridge that runs across the Golden Gate strait, and it’s one of the most sought-after travel destinations for people who visit California and wish to see its many landmarks.
What is California's State Flag?
The state of California is well known for its historical Bear Flag. The grizzly bear faces to the left and appears to be walking on a patch of Irish green grass. The Bear Flag is the official flag of the U.S. state of California. The precursor of the flag was first flown during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt and was also known as the Bear Flag. Unfortunately, the original Bear Flag, held by the Society of California Pioneers perished in the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906.
The original bear flag was designed by Peter Storm to represent California and Texas fight to end Mexico’s rule.
When was the California State Flag Adopted?
The first official version of the Bear Flag was adopted by the California State Legislature and signed into law by Governor Hiram Johnson in 1911 as the official state flag. On February 3, 1911, California Governor Hiram Johnson made the flag the official State Flag of California:
"The bear flag is hereby selected and adopted as the state flag of California. ... The said bear flag shall consist of a flag of a length equal to one and one-half the width thereof; the upper five-sixths of the width thereof to be a white field, and the lower sixth of the width thereof to be a red stripe; there shall appear in the white field in the upper left-hand corner a single red star, and at the bottom of the white field the words 'California Republic,' and in the center of the white field a California grizzly bear upon a grass plat, in the position of walking toward the left of the said field; said bear shall be dark brown in color and in length, equal to one-third of the length of said flag."
What is the Design of the California State Flag?
The modern state flag is white with a wide red strip along the bottom. There is a red star in the upper left corner and a grizzly bear facing left (toward the hoist) in the center, walking on a patch of green grass. The size of the bear is 2/3 the size of the hoist width and has a ratio of 2 by 1. The grass plot has a ratio of 11 to 1. The five-point star is taken from the California Lone Star Flag of 1836.
The flag is among the few state flags in the United States that does not feature the color blue. Apart from being used in the background of the flag, the white color has been used in accenting the claws of the bear. Old glory red is used in the thick red stripe at the bottom, the star at the left-hand corner, and in highlighting the bear's tongue. Irish green highlights the grass plot. The bears itself is shed in the seal color. The seal color is also used in shading the words California Republic as well as highlighting darker tufts in the plot of grass. Maple sugar is used in the lighter shading of the bear.
Who Designed the California State Flag?
Designed by William Todd (nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln), the historic bear flag was raised at Sonoma, California in 1846 by American settlers in revolt against Mexican rule (officially adopted as the state flag of California in 1911).
What is the Symbolism of the California State Flag?
The once common California grizzly bear (also the official state animal) portrays strength; the star represents sovereignty; the red color signifies courage; and the white background stands for purity. In the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, which occurred during the Mexican-American War, a group of American settlers in what was then the Mexican-ruled territory of California proclaimed independence and hoisted the original Bear Flag (June 14, 1846). The following month American naval forces seized control of the area, and the flag of the short-lived California Republic was replaced by the Stars and Stripes. This uprising became known as the Bear Flag Revolt (after the hastily-designed flag depicting a grizzly bear and a five pointed star over a red bar and the words "California Republic."
