Flag of Tennessee
U.S. state flag

State of Tennessee
The Tri-Star Flag
UseCivil and state flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion3:5
AdoptedApril 17, 1905; 120 years ago (1905-04-17)
DesignA blue circle with three white five-pointed stars on a rectangular field of red, with a strip of white and blue on the fly.
Designed byCol. Le Roy Reeves[1]

The flag of Tennessee is the official flag of the U.S. state of Tennessee. The flag displays an emblem on a field of red, with a strip of blue bordered by white on the fly. The emblem in the middle consists of three white stars on a blue circle also with a white border. The central emblem portion of the flag has been adopted as the state's unofficial logo, and appears in the logos of some Tennessee-based companies and sports teams. Examples include the First Horizon Bank and the Tennessee Titans.

Statute

The flag of Tennessee in Nashville

The 2024 Tennessee Code, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, § 4-1-301 specifies that the state flag shall be of the following design, colors and proportions:

...an oblong flag or banner in length one and two-thirds (1 2/3) times its width, the principal field of same to be of color red, but the flag or banner ending at its free or outer end in a perpendicular bar of blue, of uniform width, running from side to side, that is to say, from top to bottom of the flag or banner, and separated from the red field by a narrow margin or stripe of white of uniform width; the width of the white stripe to be one-fifth (1/5) that of the blue bar; and the total width of the bar and stripe together to be equal to one-eighth (1/8) of the width of the flag.

In the center of the red field shall be a smaller circular field of blue, separated from the surrounding red field by a circular margin or stripe of white of uniform width and of the same width as the straight margin or stripe first mentioned. The breadth or diameter of the circular blue field, exclusive of the white margin, shall be equal to one-half (1/2) of the width of the flag.

Inside the circular blue field shall be three (3) five-pointed stars of white distributed at equal intervals around a point, the center of the blue field, and of such size and arrangement that one (1) point of each star shall approach as closely as practicable without actually touching one (1) point of each of the other two (2) around the center point of the field; and the two (2) outer points of each star shall approach as nearly as practicable without actually touching the periphery of the blue field. The arrangement of the three (3) stars shall be such that the centers of no two (2) stars shall be in a line parallel to either the side or end of the flag, but intermediate between same; and the highest star shall be the one nearest the upper confined corner of the flag.

Symbolism

The stars represent the three geographically and legally distinct Grand Divisions of Tennessee (i.e. East, Middle, and West Tennessee). The blue circle around the stars represents the unity of those grand divisions. The blue bar at the edge of the flag was just a design consideration. When asked about the blue bar, Reeves stated "The final blue bar relieves the sameness of the crimson field and prevents the flag from showing too much crimson when hanging limp."[2]

In October 1917, National Geographic erroneously reported the stars represented the state as the third to enter the Union after the original thirteen.[2]

History

Pre-official flags (before 1897)

Proposed flag (1861) Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag

Prior to the adoption of any state flag, there was a proposed Civil War era flag in 1861 for when Tennessee seceded and joined the Confederacy. While it was not officially adopted, this flag did see some limited use.

In 1883, a state flag was donated by the people of Nashville to Colonel Allison. Its design is not known.[3]

In June of 1890, a state flag was produced in Cincinnati, it was later displayed at a banquet with the Governor Taylor being attendance. The whole thing costing $450 (Adjusted for inflation) $16,028.[4] Its design was not described.

1897 flag

Flag of Tennessee
(1897–1905) Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag

In 1897, Tennessee adopted a red, white, and blue tricolor.[5] The three bars were deliberately slanted in an effort to represent the geographically distinct regions of Tennessee. The flag included the number 16 to represent Tennessee as the 16th state in the Union, and the inscription "The Volunteer State", the state's official nickname.

Current flag (1905–present)

The current flag was designed by Colonel Le Roy Reeves,[6] a Johnson City attorney who was then serving in the Tennessee National Guard.[7] The Tennessee General Assembly officially adopted the flag on April 17, 1905.[8]

In 1976, the U.S. Postal Service issued a sheet of 13 cent stamps illustrating U.S. state flags. Tennessee's was illustrated upside down.[9]

In 2001, the North American Vexillological Association surveyed its members on the designs of the 72 U.S. state, territorial, and Canadian provincial flags and ranked the Tennessee flag 14th.[10]

Government flags

Alongside the state flag, there are other flags used by the government of Tennessee. The flag for the governor of Tennessee has been in use since 1939. It is a scarlet flag, with four stars, one in each corner, and the state military crest, a tree with three white stars, in the center. The Tennessee General Assembly has its own flag as well that was adopted in 1978.

  • Flag of the governor (adopted 1939)
    Flag of the governor (adopted 1939)
  • Flag of the General Assembly (adopted 1978)
    Flag of the General Assembly (adopted 1978)
  • Tennessee centennial flag (1896)[11]
    Tennessee centennial flag (1896)[11]
  • The flag of Tennessee as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.
    The flag of Tennessee as depicted in the 1976 bicentennial postage stamp series.
  • A state flag themed hot air balloon at Jubilee Festival, Decatur, Alabama, May 2010.
    A state flag themed hot air balloon at Jubilee Festival, Decatur, Alabama, May 2010.
  • The Tennessee state flag which flew over the Capitol during the Tornado outbreak of April 15–16, 1998. The middle emblem was ripped out during the storm. This flag is on display at the Tennessee State Capitol.
    The Tennessee state flag which flew over the Capitol during the Tornado outbreak of April 15–16, 1998. The middle emblem was ripped out during the storm. This flag is on display at the Tennessee State Capitol.
  • A sample Tennessee vehicle plates incorporating the flag's emblem as a logo.
    A sample Tennessee vehicle plates incorporating the flag's emblem as a logo.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ancestral sketches by Reeves, Le Roy, 1876-1960". archive.org. 1951.
  2. ^ a b "Tennessee State Flag". Tennessee Military Department. Archived from the original on January 14, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2007.
  3. ^ The Dallas daily herald, July 22, 1883, p.3
  4. ^ The morning call, June 9, 1890, p.1
  5. ^ Huff, Caitlin (January 6, 2021). "The Tri-Star Flag: What's behind the beloved emblem". WKRN.com. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  6. ^ Reeves, LeRoy (1951). Ancestral sketches. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Lynchburg, Va. : J.P. Bell.
  7. ^ Reeves, LeRoy. LeRoy Reeves Papers, Fonds: AppMs-9, Series: Tennessee state flag material, Box: 2. Johnson City, Tennessee: Archives of Appalachia, East Tennessee State University. (Accessed November 10, 2021.)
  8. ^ Darnell, Riley C. (2006). Tennessee Blue Book (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: State of Tennessee. pp. 515–516. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2015.
  9. ^ "Knoxville Philatelic Society News" (PDF). stampclubs.com. February 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 16, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2010.
  10. ^ Kaye, Ted (June 10, 2001). "New Mexico Tops State/provincial Flags Survey, Georgia Loses By Wide Margin". NAVA News. Vol. 34, no. 2 Issue #170. North American Vexillological Association. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  11. ^ "16 SIX-POINTED STARS ON A CORNFLOWER BLUE CANTON, AND A COMPLEMENT OF 13 STRIPES, ON AN ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG MADE OF POLISHED COTTON, LIKELY DURING THE LAST DECADE OF THE 19TH CENTURY, TO CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF TENNESSEE STATEHOOD (1796-1896)". jeffbridgman.com. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  • Tennessee Blue Book 2013–2014
  • LeRoy Reeves in the collection of the Archives of Appalachia in Johnson City, Tennessee
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