Flag of Maryland
stateThe flag of Maryland was adopted on March 9, 1904. Quartered banner of the Calvert and Crossland arms. It uses 4 colours: gold, black, red and white. The official proportions are 2:3.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Maryland |
|---|---|
| Country | Maryland |
| Official Country Name | State of Maryland |
| Continent | North America |
| Region | United States |
| ISO Country Code | US-MD |
| Internet Domain | .us |
| Calling Code | +1 |
| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
| National Language(s) | English |
Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Maryland |
|---|---|
| Adopted On | March 9, 1904 |
| Current Version Adopted | March 9, 1904 |
| Flag Proportion | 2:3 |
| Flag Shape | Rectangle |
| Number of Colors | 4 |
| Main Colors | Gold, Black, Red, White |
| Design Type | Quartered banner of the Calvert and Crossland arms |
| Official Status | Official State Flag |
| Government Authority | State Government of Maryland |
Flag Color Information
| Color | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | #FFD200 | 255, 210, 0 | 0, 18, 100, 0 | |
| Black | #000000 | 0, 0, 0 | 0, 0, 0, 100 | |
| Red | #CE1126 | 206, 17, 38 | 0, 92, 82, 19 | |
| White | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 |
Flag Design and Symbols
| Gold colour | Represents the Calvert arms |
|---|---|
| Black colour | Represents the Calvert arms |
| Red colour | Represents the Crossland arms |
| White colour | Represents the Crossland arms |
| Calvert and Crossland arms | The paternal and maternal heraldry of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore |
| Heraldic banner | The only US state flag based directly on English heraldry |
Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
|---|---|
| 1904-03-09 | 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) |
Maryland Flag Usage
| Government Buildings | Yes |
|---|---|
| Schools | Yes |
| Civil Use | Yes |
| Official Ceremonies | Yes |
| Sports Events | Yes |
Other Official Flags of Maryland
| 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 | 122 years old as of 2026 |
|---|---|
| Adoption Date | March 9, 1904 |
| Most Common Color | Gold |
| Similar Flags | Panama |
| Unique Feature | Quartered banner of the Calvert and Crossland arms |
Other quartered field flags
See all
Facts about the Flag of Maryland
- Maryland's is the only US state flag taken directly from an English coat of arms: the black and gold of the Calvert family quartered with the red and white of the Crossland family.
- The two halves carried opposite meanings during the Civil War, with Calvert colours associated with the Union and Crossland colours with Confederate sympathisers; combining them afterwards was an act of reconciliation.
- It is the only US state flag with genuine heraldic banner design, and is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive.
- The flag of Maryland was officially adopted on March 9, 1904.
- The flag in its present form is 122 years old as of 2026.
- Design type: Quartered banner of the Calvert and Crossland arms.
- The official proportions are 2:3. It shares that ratio with 83 national flags.
- The flag uses 4 colours: gold, black, red and white.
- The gold on the flag stands for the Calvert arms.
- The black on the flag stands for the Calvert arms.
- The red on the flag stands for the Crossland arms.
- Calvert and Crossland arms: The paternal and maternal heraldry of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore.
- Heraldic banner: The only US state flag based directly on English heraldry.
- The design belongs to the "Quartered field" family, shared with 1 other flag in this reference.
- Flags most often confused with it: Panama.
- Maryland joined the Union on 28 April 1788, as the 7th state.
- Jousting is the official state sport and lacrosse the official team sport.
- The state is nicknamed The Old Line State.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Flag of Maryland
When was the flag of Maryland adopted?
The flag of Maryland was officially adopted on March 9, 1904.
What do the colours of the flag of Maryland mean?
Gold for the Calvert arms, black for the Calvert arms, red for the Crossland arms and white for the Crossland arms.
When did Maryland become a state?
Maryland entered the Union on 28 April 1788, as the 7th state.
What is the state sport of Maryland?
Jousting is the official state sport and lacrosse the official team sport.
What do the symbols on the flag of Maryland represent?
Calvert and Crossland arms — The paternal and maternal heraldry of George Calvert, first Lord Baltimore. Heraldic banner — The only US state flag based directly on English heraldry.
What are the proportions of the flag of Maryland?
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 Maryland?
The state bird is the Baltimore oriole, the state flower is the black-eyed Susan and the motto is "Fatti maschii, parole femine".
Which flags look similar to the flag of Maryland?
The closest matches are Panama, which share both the construction and most of the colours.
How many colours are on the flag of Maryland?
It uses 4 colours: gold, black, red and white.
Can I download the flag of Maryland for free?
Yes. This page offers the flag of Maryland in SVG, PNG, JPG and WebP at several sizes. The files are free to use for any purpose and no attribution is required.