Ohio’s Flag: The Only Non-Rectangular US State Flag
Every US state flag is a rectangle. Every one except Ohio. Ohio’s flag ends in a swallowtail, a forked shape with two points, and the moment you see it in a quiz, the question is already over.
It is the only non-rectangular state flag in America, and one of only two non-rectangular official flags in the world. The other is Nepal’s. It was drawn for an exposition, not a battlefield, and every part of it means something.
A flag with a tail
Ohio’s flag is called a burgee, the proper name for a swallowtail flag. The shape comes from the guidon carried by US cavalry, and it was drawn by Cleveland architect John Eisenmann for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Ohio liked it so much that it became official on May 9, 1902.
That date matters for quizzes. If a question shows a swallowtail, there is only one possible answer. No other state flag ends in points.
What every part means
Three red and two white horizontal stripes stand for the state’s roads and waterways. A blue triangle at the hoist stands for Ohio’s hills and valleys.
Inside the triangle sit 17 white stars. Thirteen stand for the original states, grouped around the circle, and four more were added because Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the Union.
The white circle with its red center is the letter O for Ohio, and the red disc suggests the seed of the buckeye, Ohio’s state tree and nickname. The red, white and blue honor the national flag.
Why Ohio is free points in a quiz
Most flags make you read a seal. Ohio makes you notice a shape. In a timed quiz, shape is faster than detail, which is why Ohio belongs in the distinctive family with Texas, New Mexico and Maryland.
Put it next to a normal flag and the difference is instant: one ends in a straight edge, the other ends in a fork. Learn that one shape and Ohio is never a guess again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Ohio’s flag not rectangular?
It is a swallowtail burgee, based on the guidon carried by US cavalry. Ohio is the only state that uses this shape.
What is a burgee?
A burgee is a swallowtail flag, a flag that ends in two points instead of a straight edge. The word comes from nautical flags.
What do the 17 stars mean?
Thirteen stand for the original states and four more were added because Ohio was the 17th state admitted to the Union.
What does the blue triangle stand for?
Ohio’s hills and valleys, as shown in the state seal.
When was Ohio’s flag adopted?
It became official on May 9, 1902, after John Eisenmann drew it for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.
Ohio proves that a flag does not need a seal to be memorable. One strange shape beats fifty similar ones. For more state games, visit the us states quiz homepage.
