Municipal Flag of Chicago

The Flag of Chicago, Illinois

The Flag of Chicago is available for purchase from my friends at U.S. Flag Depot, Inc.



(Descriptions are based on information from the files of the Chicago Public Library's Information Center and the Municipal Reference Collection.)


The original two-star flag was designed by Wallace Rice and adopted in 1917.

The Municipal Flag of Chicago


Click here for Municipal Code of Chicago sections pertaining to the Municipal Flag of Chicago

The Municipal Flag of Chicago consists of 3 White stripes separated by two stripes of Blue with four Red six-pointed stars on the center stripe of White:

    The 3 White stripes:
    • Top White Stripe represents the North side of the city.
    • Center White Stripe represents the West side of the city.
    • Bottom White Stripe represents the South side of the city.

    The 2 Blue stripes:

    • Top Blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River.
    • Bottom Blue stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Great Canal.

    The 4 Red stars on the Center White Stripes represent something as well as each of the points on the stars themselves:

       
    • The First Red Star represents Fort Dearborn (added in 1939).
        The Points of the First Red Star Signify:
        1. transportation
        2. labor
        3. commerce
        4. finance
        5. populousness
        6. salubrity

       

    • The Second Red Star represents the Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871.
        The Points of the Second Red Star Signify:
        1. religion
        2. education
        3. esthetics
        4. justice
        5. beneficence
        6. civic pride

       

    • The Third Red Star represents the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.
        The Points of the Third Red Star Signify History of the Area:
        1. France 1693
        2. Great Britain 1763
        3. Virginia 1778
        4. Northwest Territory 1798
        5. Indian Territory 1802
        6. Illinois Statehood 1818

       

    • The Fourth Red Star represents the Century of Progress Exposition of 1933 (added in 1933).
        The Points of the Fourth Red Star Signify:
        1. World's Third Largest City
        2. City's Latin Motto
        3. I will Motto
        4. Great Central Market
        5. Wonder City
        6. Convention City



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