In 1912, the Pine Bluff chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a flag design contest to create a flag for the USS Arkansas.
Willie K. Hocker, a local teacher, submitted the winning design which featured three blue stars at the center of a white diamond trimmed in blue and 25 white stars. At the flag committee’s request, the word “Arkanas” was added and the flag was adopted in 1913.
The flag has had two small revisions, with its current iteration adopted in 1924.
Although unchanged since, it wasn’t signed into law until 1987.
The Arkansas flag features a field of red surrounding a centered diamond of white, bordered by a band of blue emblazoned with 25 white five-pointed stars.
Within the white diamond the word “Arkanas” is inscribed. Three blue five-pointed stars are placed below and one more placed above.
diamonds, natural resources
Note: Arkansas is the only diamond-bearing state in the U.S.
Arkansas as the 25th state to join the Union
the three countries to which Arkansas has belonged (Spain, France, and the U.S.) and the first three states formed from the Louisiana Purchase (Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas)
Arkansas’ secession and role in the Confederacy
Colors include red, white, and blue. The blue and red match those on the United States flag.
Neither Arkansas law nor the Office of the Secretary of State provide official dimensions for the flag. It is commonly produced with a proportion of 2:3.
Statute does require Arkansas flags be produced in the United States.
Willie K. Hocker’s design submitted to the flag contest.
“Arkanas” is added to the Hocker design.
A fourth star is added within the white diamond.
The fourth star is separated from the other three.