New Jersey

flag of New Jersey
The Garden State
Admitted December 18, 1787

New Jersey became the third state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, named in honor of England’s Isle of Jersey.

Its flag is the only U.S. flag to feature a field of buff, often incorrectly represented as yellow. It’s one of many to showcase its state coat of arms.

The flag was officially adopted March 26, 1896.

Composition

The New Jersey flag features a field of buff charged with the state coat of arms, centered.

In the 2001 North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) flag survey of United States and Canada flags, the flag of New Jersey was ranked 46th out of 72.

flag of New Jersey

Iconography

  • the goddess Liberty holding a staff topped with a phrygian cap

    Liberty

    goddess of liberty, freedom

  • the goddess Ceres holding a cornucopia

    Ceres

    goddess of agriculture, prosperity

  • a phrygian cap

    phrygian cap

    liberty, freedom

  • a cornucopia filled with fruits

    cornucopia

    agriculture, bountiful harvest

  • a left-facing horse’s head

    horse

    state animal, transportation, farming

  • a forward facing knight’s helmet and gorget

    knight

    strength, sovereignty

  • a shield

    shield

    strength, agricultural tradition

  • a plow

    plow

    agriculture, fertile soil

Coat of Arms

New Jersey’s coat of arms was designed by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere in 1777.

the New Jersey coat of arms

Colors

Jersey Blue and Buff are New Jersey’s state colors, assigned with specific color values.

The colors were chosen by George Washington while encamped at Jockey Hollow during the Revolutionary War, originally for the New Jersey Line uniform coats.

The New Jersey Secretary of State’s Office provides Pantone color values for the colors within the seal.

Buff
#e1b584
Cable No. 65015 US Army Buff
Jersey Blue
#2484c6
Cable No. 70087 Royal Blue
Skin
#efd19f
PMS 155C
Tan
#b59461
PMS 465C
Brown
#744f28
PMS 463C
Brown 2
#5d2a2c
PMS 490C
Gold
#b4a91f
PMS 7766C
Orange
#db6b30
PMS 7578C
Red
#c8102e
PMS 186C
Pink
#e68699
PMS 701C
Deep Pink
#872651
PMS 7435C
Purple
#b4b5df
PMS 270C
Purple 2
#565294
PMS 7670C
Blue 2
#418fde
PMS 279C
Blue 3
#0076a8
PMS 7690C
Blue 4
#4698ca
PMS 7688C
Green
#61913d
PMS 7490C
Grey
#98a4ae
PMS 7543C

Construction

New Jersey statute doesn’t specify dimensions, but the flag is usually produced with a proportion of 2:3.

construction sheet for the flag of New Jersey

Sources