The flag of Chicago, Illinois, consists of a white background with two equal light blue horizontal stripes, each stripe taking up one-sixth of the flag design. In between the two blue stripes are four red six-pointed stars, each placed equal distances from each other. The design of the flag is symmetrical, vertically and horizontally.[1]
Symbolism[]
The two blue stripes represent the two main bodies of water by Chicago; the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. The stars, from left to right represent, Fort Dearborn, The Great Chicago Fire of October 8-10, 1871, The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and The Century of Progress of 1933, and the stars' six points all have meanings.
- First star: Health, Transportation, Labor, Populousness, Finance, Commerce
- Second star: Civic Sport, Religion, Education, Beneficence, Justice, Aesthetics
- Third star: World's 3rd Largest City, Convention City, Wonder City, Great Central Market, "I Will" motto, City in a Garden
- Fourth star: Various countries and states that have occupied the city;
- France (1693), United Kingdom (1693-1763), Virginia (1763-1778), Northwest Territory (1798), Indiana (1798-1802), Illinois (1818-present)
2004 NAVA Survey[]
The flag scored 9.03 in the 2004 NAVA City Flag Survey, and was ranked as the 2nd best flag, behind Washington, D.C.
History[]
.svg "Chicago (1917-1933).svg (3 KB)")
.svg "Chicago (1933-1939).svg (4 KB)")
