A buff diamond on blue, within it the state coat of arms: farmer, soldier, ox, wheat and ship. Beneath is the date 1787, when Delaware became the first to ratify the Constitution. Buff and blue echo the colours worn by George Washington’s troops.
Buff diamond on colonial blue field with coat of arms and December 7, 1787 date.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Legislative adoption
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- Ox
- Design type
- State seal within geometric emblem
- Complexity
- 8/10
- Readability
- 4/10
- Seal-based design
- Yes
Colors used
State Motto
“Liberty and Independence”
State Anthem
Our Delaware
Flag Symbolism
Buff And Blue
Colors of George Washington’s Continental Army uniform.
Coat Of Arms
Features farming, shipping, and liberty.
Date 1787
Marks Delaware as the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
Design Breakdown
The Delaware 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: Buff diamond on colonial blue field with coat of arms and December 7, 1787 date.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Only state flag with a buff-colored field
- Only state flag displaying a full ratification date
- Explicitly references first state status
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Strong Revolutionary War symbolism
- Unique buff background color
- Clear reference to first state status
Common criticism
- Includes detailed seal
- Contains text and numbers
- Difficult to identify at distance
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove the state seal
- Eliminate the date text
- Simplify the design while keeping the diamond
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Delaware state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Explain Delaware’s status as the First State.
- Identify coat of arms symbols of farming and shipping.
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
Buff Colored Field
A buff-colored field serving as the background of the flag.
Attributes: Buff (light tan) background
Meaning: The color of General George Washington’s uniform
Diamond
A blue diamond centered on the flag.
Attributes: Blue diamond shape
Meaning: A reference to the blue cockade worn by Delaware soldiers during the Revolutionary War
State Seal
The Delaware state seal placed inside the diamond.
Attributes: Farmer, Soldier, Ox, Ship, Latin motto
Meaning: Agriculture, defense, commerce, and the state’s foundational values
Date
The date 'December 7, 1787' displayed below the diamond.
Attributes: Blue numerals
Meaning: Delaware becoming the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution
Historical Timeline
Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution.
Flag officially adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: State seal within geometric emblem
Complexity: 8/10
Readability: 4/10
Fascinating Facts
Delaware is the first state of the Union.
The flag’s buff and blue echo Revolutionary War uniforms.
The diamond shape is unique among U.S. state flags.
The date 1787 marks Delaware’s ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
The coat of arms represents Delaware’s agricultural and maritime heritage.
The colors were chosen to honor General George Washington.
The flag was officially adopted in 1913.
Delaware’s flag is one of the few state flags that includes an exact founding date.
State Information
- Population
- 989,948
- Area
- 1,949
- Founded
- 07 Dec 1787
- Region
- Northeast
