South Carolina State Flag

There have existed various forms of South Carolina state flag since 1775.

History of the Flag

The most used flag was formed based on the American Revolutionary War and was ranked among the top ten best regional flag in North America. During this period, the Revolutionary Council of Safety requested Colonel William Moultrie design a flag to be used during the war. His flag featured a dark blue field, the same blue as the militia's uniform, and a crescent, similar to that worn on the caps of the regiments. The flag became a symbol of the Revolution and for liberty.

A palmetto was added to the flag in 1861. South Carolina, newly independent, decided to add the palmetto to the existing Moultrie flag. The palmetto was chosen for its significance in Moultrie's defense of Sullivan Island. On January 26, 1861, the state flag was adopted, adding a golden palmetto in a white oval to Moultrie's design. The design only lasted two days, however, become known as the "2-day flag", due to the change of on January 28th that removed the white oval and switched the palmetto from gold to white. This design has remained until this day.

Design of the Flag

Today, the design of the South Carolina flag remains similar to that of January 28, 1861. The flag has a dark blue field with a white crescent moon in the upper left corner and a white palmetto in the center. However, no state law specifies the colors, shape, or size of the flag, meaning that the blue color and placement of the crescent and palmetto may change slightly from manufacturer to