A bold “C” of red encircling a golden disc, set against stripes of blue and white. The colours speak of sky, snow and sunshine; the red earth anchors it. Few state flags are so modern and instantly legible, Colorado wears its landscape with graphic flair. Colorado’s flag is a simple yet powerful design, adopted to reflect natural beauty and the state’s centennial admission.
Horizontal blue-white-blue stripes with red C containing a golden disk.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag Statute
Consist of three alternate stripes to be of equal width and at right angles to the staff, the two outer stripes to be blue of the same color as in the blue field of the national flag and the middle stripe to be white, the proportion of the flag being a width of two-thirds of its length. At a distance from the staff end of the flag of one-fifth of the total length of the flag there shall be a circular red C, of the same color as the red in the national flag of the United States. The diameter of the letter shall be two-thirds of the width of the flag. The inner line of the opening of the letter C shall be three-fourths of the width of its body or bar, and the outer line of the opening shall be double the length of the inner line thereof. Completely filling the open space inside the letter C shall be a golden disk; attached to the flag shall be a cord of gold and silver intertwined, with tassels one of gold and one of silver.
Source: Colorado Statutes, § 24-80-904 (2024)
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Andrew Carlisle Carson
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- No
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- Geometric letter emblem
- Complexity
- 2/10
- Readability
- 10/10
- Seal-based design
- No
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
Blue Stripes
Sky and clear skies.
White Stripe
Snowcapped mountains.
Red C
Stands for Colorado and red earth.
Gold Disk
Symbolizes abundant sunshine.
Design Breakdown
The Colorado 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: Horizontal blue-white-blue stripes with red C containing a golden disk.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- One of the most highly rated U.S. state flags
- Uses a single letter as a primary design element
- Strongly represents geography through abstract design
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Excellent simplicity
- Strong color contrast
- Instant recognizability
- Clear symbolism tied to landscape
Common criticism
- Letter-based design breaks some traditional vexillology rules
- Symbolism relies on explanation for first-time viewers
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: No
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Colorado state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Interpret meaning of stripes and colors.
- Relate flag design to geography and natural features.
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.
Seal Deep Dive
Red C
A large red letter 'C' centered on the flag.
Attributes: Bold red capital C
Meaning: The name Colorado and the Spanish word 'Colorado' meaning red
Gold Disk
A gold circle contained within the red C.
Attributes: Circular gold disk
Meaning: Abundant sunshine and the state’s gold mining history
Stripes
Three horizontal stripes: blue, white, blue.
Attributes: Two blue stripes, One white stripe
Meaning: Blue skies, white snow-capped Rocky Mountains, and clear air
Historical Timeline
Colorado admitted as the 38th state on U.S. centennial.
Flag design adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Geometric letter emblem
Complexity: 2/10
Readability: 10/10
Fascinating Facts
One of the most popular and recognizable state flags.
The ‘C’ stands for Colorado and the state’s rich red soil.
The gold circle inside the ‘C’ represents abundant sunshine.
Blue stripes symbolize Colorado’s clear skies.
White stripe represents the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.
The flag uses only four colors: red, blue, white, and gold.
The design was officially adopted in 1911.
The bold, simple design makes the flag highly legible at a distance.
State Information
- Population
- 5,773,714
- Area
- 104,094
- Founded
- 01 Aug 1876
- Region
- West
