Flag of California
stateThe flag of California was adopted on February 3, 1911. White field with a red stripe, a grizzly bear and a red star. It uses 4 colours: white, red, brown and green. The official proportions are 2:3.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of California |
|---|---|
| Country | California |
| Official Country Name | State of California |
| Continent | North America |
| Region | United States |
| ISO Country Code | US-CA |
| Internet Domain | .us |
| Calling Code | +1 |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
| National Language(s) | English |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of California |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | February 3, 1911 |
| Current Version Adopted | February 3, 1911 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 4 |
| Main Colors | White, Red, Brown, Green |
| Design Type | White field with a red stripe, a grizzly bear and a red star |
| Official Status | Official State Flag |
| Government Authority | State Government of California |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | |
| Red | #B71234 | 183, 18, 52 | 0, 90, 72, 28 | |
| Brown | #584528 | 88, 69, 40 | 0, 22, 55, 65 | |
| Green | #008542 | 0, 133, 66 | 100, 0, 50, 48 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| White colour | Represents purity |
|---|---|
| Red colour | Represents courage |
| Brown colour | Represents the grizzly bear |
| Green colour | Represents the grass |
| California grizzly | Strength and the animal that once roamed the state, now extinct there |
| Lone star | The Lone Star of the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1911-02-03 | The current flag was officially adopted |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
| Present | The flag remains in official use |
Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio | 2:3 |
|---|---|
| Width | 2 units (hoist) |
| Length | 3 units (fly) |
California Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of California
| Flag Type | Use | Link |
|---|---|---|
| National Flag | National representation | View flag |
| Civil Flag | Used by civilians | View flag |
| State Flag | Used by government | View flag |
| War Flag | Used during military operations | View flag |
| Naval Ensign | Used by the navy | View flag |
| Air Force Flag | Used by the air force | View flag |
| Presidential Standard | Used by the head of state | View flag |
| Royal Standard | Used by the monarch | View flag |
| Historical Flag | Previous national flag | View flag |
Quick Facts About the Flag
| Flag Age | 115 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | February 3, 1911 |
| Most Common Color | White |
| Similar Flags | Arkansas, Aruba, Bangladesh |
| Unique Feature | White field with a red stripe, a grizzly bear and a red star |
Other plain field with a central emblem flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of California
- The design descends from the flag raised at Sonoma during the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt, a short-lived rebellion against Mexican rule that lasted under a month.
- The grizzly bear is based on a subspecies that once lived across the state and was hunted to extinction by the 1920s; the flag depicts an animal California no longer has.
- The 1911 statute did not specify the bear's appearance closely, and the modern standardised drawing was only fixed in 1953.
- The flag of California was officially adopted on February 3, 1911.
- The flag in its present form is 115 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: White field with a red stripe, a grizzly bear and a red star.
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 83 national flags.
- The flag uses 4 colours: white, red, brown and green.
- The white on the flag stands for purity.
- The red on the flag stands for courage.
- The brown on the flag stands for the grizzly bear.
- California grizzly: Strength and the animal that once roamed the state, now extinct there.
- Lone star: The Lone Star of the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt.
- The design belongs to the "Plain field with a central emblem" family, shared with 70 other flags in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Arkansas, Aruba and Bangladesh.
- California joined the Union on 9 September 1850, as the 31st state.
- Surfing is the official state sport.
- The state is nicknamed The Golden State.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of California
When was the flag of California adopted?
The flag of California was officially adopted on February 3, 1911.
What do the colours of the flag of California mean?
White for purity, red for courage, brown for the grizzly bear and green for the grass.
When did California become a state?
California entered the Union on 9 September 1850, as the 31st state.
What is the state sport of California?
Surfing is the official state sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of California represent?
California grizzly — Strength and the animal that once roamed the state, now extinct there. Lone star — The Lone Star of the 1846 Bear Flag Revolt.
What are the proportions of the flag of California?
The official ratio is 2:3, which makes the flag rectangular. It shares those proportions with 83 national flags.
What are the state symbols of California?
The state bird is the California quail, the state flower is the California poppy and the motto is "Eureka — I have found it".
Which flags look similar to the flag of California?
The closest matches are Arkansas, Aruba and Bangladesh, which share both the construction and most of the colours.
How many colours are on the flag of California?
It uses 4 colours: white, red, brown and green.
Can I download the flag of California for free?
Yes. This page offers the flag of California in SVG, PNG, JPG and WebP at several sizes. The files are free to use for any purpose and no attribution is required.