Composition
The Delaware flag features a field of colonial blue surrounding a centered diamond of buff charged with the state coat of arms.
“December 7, 1787” (the date Delaware became a state) is inscribed below the diamond in white.
Delaware
Delaware was the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and displays that date proudly on its flag.
A commission group was originally put together for the design, which resulted in the current version, the only one Delaware has flown. Like many other states, the Delaware flag features the state coat of arms, adopted in 1777.
The flag was officially adopted July 24, 1913.
Iconography
diamond
the Diamond State, small but valuable
Note: It was Thomas Jefferson who compared Delaware to a diamond.
husbandman
farming, agriculture
rifleman
citizens’ role in protecting freedom
wheat
agriculture
corn
agriculture
ox
animal husbandry
water
the Delaware River, transportation, commerce
ship
shipbuilding, coastal trades
Coat of Arms
The flag features the Delaware coat of arms, adopted in 1777.
On the lower banner, the state motto “Liberty and Independence” is inscribed, also heard in the state song, “Our Delaware.”
Colors
Colonial blue and buff are Delaware’s state colors.
The two colors were inspired by a military uniform George Washington once wore.
The Delaware Public Archives provides color values for the Munsell and Pantone 1995 color systems.
Values corresponding to imagery:Colonial Blue: field
Buff: diamond, rifleman’s binding, bag, and leggings
Gray Brown: farmer’s trousers
Brown: farmer’s hat and hoe, rifleman’s hat and gun stock, ship’s hull
Red Brown: cow
Red: farmer’s shirt
Flesh: face and hands
Orange: shield’s top panel
Yellow 1: shield’s frame, branches
Yellow 2: corn
Yellow 3: wheat
Green 1: rifleman’s suit
Green 2: grass and corn husk
Blue 1: shield’s center panel
Blue 2: emblem below ship
Silver: emblem below ship
Gray: rifleman’s flask, feather, and gun barrel
White: shield’s lower panel
Colonial Blue
#669ca4
Cable No. 10663 Arno Blue
Munsell 1.5B 6/4
Pantone S238-6
Buff
#c7a97f
Cable No. 10781 Golden Beige
Munsell 10YR /74
Pantone S24-4
Gray Brown
#9b9379
Munsell 5Y 6/2
Pantone S42-7
Brown
#5a4143
Munsell 2.5YR 3/2
Pantone S317-1
Red Brown
#8e4f3e
Munsell 10R 4/6
Pantone S317-5
Red
#b12f39
Munsell 5R 4/12
Pantone S89-1
Flesh
#f1dfd8
Munsell 10R 9/2
Pantone S61-9
Orange
#f09b1e
Munsell 7.5YR 7/12
Pantone S36-2
Yellow 1
#e6c737
Munsell 5Y 8/10
Pantone S5-3
Yellow 2
#f7d400
Munsell 5Y 8.5/12
Pantone S5-4
Yellow 3
#f8e38c
Munsell 5Y 9/6
Pantone S5-5
Green 1
#586538
Munsell 5GY 4/4
Pantone S293-1
Green 2
#6d8138
Munsell 5GY 5/6
Pantone S293-2
Blue 1
#629ab9
Munsell 10B 6/6
Pantone S235-6
Blue 2
#669ca4
Munsell 2.5B 6/4
Pantone S238-6
Silver
#c2c9cd
Munsell 10B 8/1
Pantone S235-9
Gray
#344b51
Munsell 2.5B 3/2
Pantone S327-3
White
#ffffff
Pantone White
Construction
Delaware statute doesn’t specify dimensions, but the flag is usually produced with a proportion of 2:3.
Sources
- Howe, Randy. Flags of the Fifty States: Their Colorful Histories and Significance. Guilford: The Globe Pequot Press, 2002. Print.
- Mitchell, Henry. The State Arms of the Union. Boston: L. Prang & Co, 1876.
- Delaware Code. TITLE 29 State Government. Part I General Provisions. CHAPTER 3. STATE SEAL, SONG AND SYMBOLS. Section § 306 State flag.
- Research Room Staff. Delaware Public Archives, personal communication, August 5, 2019.
- Munsell Color Palette
- Flag of Delaware - Wikipedia