A cobalt field with a silver star, sage sprigs, and a banner reading “Battle Born.” Adopted during the Civil War, Nevada’s flag makes its very birth a point of pride. Simple, tough, frontier in spirit.
Blue field with emblem in upper left corner featuring star, sagebrush, and banner.
Ratio: 2:3
Flag at a Glance
- Designer
- Louis Shellback III
- Ratio
- 2:3
- Text on flag
- Yes
- Animals
- None listed
- Design type
- Emblematic plant and star flag
- Complexity
- 4/10
- Readability
- 8/10
- Seal-based design
- No
Colors used
Flag Symbolism
Silver Star
Represents Nevada’s mining wealth.
Sagebrush
State flower.
Banner With ‘ Battle Born’
Commemorates admission during the Civil War.
Design Breakdown
The Nevada 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: Blue field with emblem in upper left corner featuring star, sagebrush, and banner.
What Makes This Flag Unique
A lot of state flags share common themes. This one stands out for a few reasons:
- Only state flag featuring sagebrush as the primary plant symbol
- Strong association with silver mining through a single star
- Corner-based emblem rather than a central seal
Praised and Criticised
Common praise
- Simple and distinctive corner emblem
- Clear symbolism tied to state identity
- Good visibility at distance
Common criticism
- Includes text
- Dark blue field similar to many other state flags
- Corner placement can be overlooked when hanging vertically
Modern Discussion
Redesign debate: Yes
Common suggestions
- Remove the state name text
- Enlarge or center the emblem
- Adopt a silver-and-green focused color scheme
For Teachers & Students
Classroom-ready prompts, printables, and citation info for studying the Nevada state flag.
Subjects
Learning objectives
- Explain symbolism of the silver star and ‘Battle Born.’
- Relate sagebrush to Nevada’s desert ecology.
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
Silver Star
A silver five-pointed star near the hoist.
Attributes: Silver five-pointed star
Meaning: Nevada as the Silver State and its historic mining industry
Sagebrush
A wreath of green sagebrush encircling the star.
Attributes: Green sagebrush sprig
Meaning: Resilience and the natural landscape of Nevada
State Name
The word 'NEVADA' displayed above the star.
Attributes: Gold capital letters
Meaning: Clear labeling of the state
Historical Timeline
Nevada admitted as 36th state during Civil War.
Modern design officially adopted.
Vexillology Notes
Design type: Emblematic plant and star flag
Complexity: 4/10
Readability: 8/10
Fascinating Facts
Nevada is nicknamed the Silver State for its mining history.
The motto ‘Battle Born’ emphasizes Civil War admission.
The silver star is the central symbol of the flag.
A wreath of sagebrush surrounds the star.
Sagebrush is Nevada’s state flower.
The blue field represents loyalty and justice.
Nevada was admitted to the Union in 1864 during the Civil War.
The current flag design was adopted in 1929.
State Information
- Population
- 3,104,614
- Area
- 110,572
- Founded
- 31 Oct 1864
- Region
- West
