A simple red St. Andrew’s cross on a white field: plain yet striking. The design echoes the Confederate battle flag, though stripped to its bare bones. Its austerity gives Alabama’s flag a bold clarity, matched by nicknames such as “The Heart of Dixie.”
White field with a crimson saltire (diagonal cross) reaching the flag’s edges.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Unknown
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Not listed
- Animals
- None listed
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
Saltire
Represents St. Andrew’s cross; a historic emblem used by several flags in the region.
White
Purity and honesty.
Crimson
Courage and valor.
Design Breakdown
The Alabama flag can be described in a simple build order. This is useful for students learning how flags are constructed.
- Start with the base field described in the construction.
- Add the main shapes first (large stripe, field divisions, or background forms).
- Place the primary symbol(s) in their main position(s) (centre, canton, etc.).
- Finish with details like text, small emblems, and final color fills.
Construction note: White field with a crimson saltire (diagonal cross) reaching the flag’s edges.
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Alabama state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Identify the saltire and its proportions.
- Relate colors to commonly taught symbolism.
Print this
Printable classroom handouts for this flag page.
Cite this page
Copy and paste a ready-made citation.
MLA
APA
Note: Citation formats can vary by school. These are common classroom defaults.
Historical Timeline
Admitted to the Union as the 22nd state.
Current flag adopted by the Alabama legislature.
Fascinating Facts
Alabama is nicknamed the Yellowhammer State.
The flag’s saltire is visually similar to Florida’s flag.
The crimson St. Andrew’s cross is called a saltire.
The design was officially adopted in 1895.
The flag was inspired by the Confederate battle flag.
There is no official shade of crimson defined in state law.
The flag must be square or rectangular according to statute.
It is one of the simplest U.S. state flags in terms of design.
State Information
- Population
- 5,074,296
- Area
- 52,420
- Founded
- 14 Dec 1819
- Region
- Southeast
