Flag of Chicago

Flag of Chicago

The Flag of Chicago consists of two blue horizontal stripes on a field of white, each stripe one-sixth the height of the full flag and placed slightly less than one-sixth of the way from the top and bottom. Four red, six-pointed stars are arranged in a horizontal row in the center of the flag, closer to the top stripe than the bottom. The flag, adopted in 1917, was designed by Wallace Rice after a city-wide design competition.

Design and symbolism

The flag's design holds significant meaning representing various aspects of the city's history and identity. The three white background sections of the flag represent, from top to bottom, the North, West, and South sides of the city. The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River, while the bottom stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Great Canal. The four stars on the flag symbolize important events in Chicago's history: Fort Dearborn, the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933–34.

Each point of the stars also holds meaning, representing important virtues or concepts such as transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness, salubrity, education, and aesthetics.

History

The idea for a municipal flag was first proposed in 1915, and the Chicago City Council adopted the flag on April 4, 1917. The original design included two stars, and over the years, two more were added. The most recent star was added in 1939.

Cultural significance

The flag of Chicago is widely regarded as a symbol of the city, with a high degree of recognition and respect among its citizens. It is commonly seen throughout Chicago, flown from public buildings, incorporated into the design of city services and properties, and used in various forms by local businesses and sports teams. The flag's design has been praised for its simplicity, symbolism, and aesthetic appeal, often ranking highly in surveys and polls of flag design.

See also

• History of Chicago
• Symbols of Chicago
• Flags of the United States

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