Three horizontal bars of red, white, red, with a blue canton carrying a ring of stars around the state’s coat of arms. The pillars and arch represent the Constitution, supported by wisdom, justice and moderation. Georgia’s flag nods to the national Stars and Stripes while declaring its own creed.
Three horizontal red-white-red stripes with blue canton bearing 13 stars and state coat of arms.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Legislative adoption
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- Modified national-style flag with state seal
- Complexity
- 7/10
- Readability
- 6/10
- Seal-based design
- Yes
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
13 Stars
Represent Georgia as one of the original colonies.
Coat Of Arms
Highlights Constitution, wisdom, justice, and moderation.
Red, White, Red Stripes
Modeled after Confederate Stars and Bars.
Design Breakdown
The Georgia 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: Three horizontal red-white-red stripes with blue canton bearing 13 stars and state coat of arms.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- One of few state flags closely modeled on the U.S. flag
- Prominently features governmental structure symbolism
- Seal design emphasizes constitutional protection
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Clear connection to U.S. flag design
- Strong governmental symbolism
- Improved clarity over earlier versions
Common criticism
- Relies heavily on the state seal
- Includes text
- Often confused with other red-white-blue flags
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove text from the seal
- Create a unique non-seal emblem
- Further distinguish from Confederate-era influences
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Georgia state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Explain connection to Confederate flag history.
- Identify Georgia’s motto and coat of arms.
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
State Seal
The Georgia state seal centered within a blue canton.
Attributes: Three pillars, Arch with 'Constitution', Man with sword, State motto
Meaning: The three branches of government protected by law and military readiness
Pillars
Three white pillars supporting an arch labeled 'Constitution'.
Attributes: Three classical columns
Meaning: Legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government
Motto
The words 'Wisdom, Justice, Moderation' displayed on banners.
Attributes: English text
Meaning: Core principles guiding the state’s governance
Stripes
Three horizontal stripes: red, white, red.
Attributes: Two red stripes, One white stripe
Meaning: Valor, purity, and sacrifice
Historical Timeline
Georgia admitted as the 4th state.
Current flag adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Modified national-style flag with state seal
Complexity: 7/10
Readability: 6/10
Fascinating Facts
Georgia has had several flag redesigns in modern times.
Known as the Peach State for its agricultural heritage.
The current flag design was adopted in 2003.
The design is based on the First National Flag of the Confederacy.
The state seal appears within the blue canton.
The three pillars on the seal represent the branches of government.
The words 'Wisdom, Justice, Moderation' appear on the seal.
The flag uses red, white, and blue to reflect the U.S. flag.
State Information
- Population
- 10,711,908
- Area
- 59,425
- Founded
- 02 Jan 1788
- Region
- Southeast
