Ohio's flag is the only non-rectangular state banner in the United States

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While most American states rely on a seal placed on a simple bedsheet, Ohio chose a distinctive swallowtail burgee. This unique design, which defies standard vexillological norms, was nearly a century in the making and now carries its own legally mandated folding procedure to honor the state's history.

For nearly one hundred years after achieving statehood, Ohio lacked an official flag. Early attempts to create one were often thwarted by legislative disagreement or the prevailing sentiment that only the Stars and Stripes should be displayed. It was not until 1901 that Cleveland architect John Eisenmann, tasked with designing an exhibition hall for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, created the burgee-shaped banner. He secured a design patent for his creation, which he likened to a cavalry guidon, and the state officially adopted it in 1902.

The flag's design is rich in symbolism. Its three red and two white stripes represent the state's roads and waterways, while the blue triangular field signifies its hills and valleys. The seventeen stars—thirteen grouped around a red disc and four at the triangle's peak—commemorate Ohio as the seventeenth state admitted to the Union. The central red disc, superimposed on a white circular 'O,' represents the state's name and its nickname, the Buckeye State, while also nodding to the Northwest Territory.

Because the flag is a non-quadrilateral burgee, it presents unique challenges for display and handling. In 2005, the state legislature codified a specific folding procedure to ensure the flag is treated with proper respect. This method requires two people and involves seventeen distinct folds, mirroring the number of stars on the flag. The result is a compact rectangle, a process that vendors have described as quite a challenge compared to standard rectangular flags.

The design has left a lasting mark on Ohio's civic identity. It has influenced various municipal and county flags, as well as the logos of professional sports teams like the Columbus Blue Jackets. Additionally, the state maintains a separate scarlet gubernatorial flag, which features the Great Seal of Ohio surrounded by thirteen stars, with a white star in each of the four corners, further cementing the state's unique approach to its official symbols.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The Michigan flag was born from a 19th-century military standard
• Why do so many American state flags look like a blue bedsheet with a seal?
• Ohio's name means good river, and its mound builders traded across a continent
• FLAC is the gold standard for preserving digital audio without losing a single bit.
• How a San Francisco rock band bridged the gap between rockabilly and punk
• The sunken Manhattan slum that birthed the roots of American music
• A Canadian mining city named after a fictional submarine-piloting explorer from a 1905 novel.
• How a Denver ska band turned a golf club joke into a musical legacy
• The university that once recruited more National Achievement Scholars than Harvard
• How Florida International University became the fastest school to reach college football's highest level
• From expansion underdogs to back-to-back Stanley Cup champions: the Florida Panthers' unlikely rise
• The evolution of Britain's naval head from 1689 to today

More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics