Kentucky Flag History

By Garry Long


Archeologists classify Kentucky's prehistoric past into six cultures that spanned 13,000 BC to 1,650 AD. These cultures were the Paleo-Indian culture, the Archaic culture, the Woodland culture, the Adena culture, the Mississippian culture and the Fort Ancient culture. From about 1650 until the arrival of the first white settlers, Native American battles broke out over control of the "Great Meadow" between the Shawnee tribes from north of the Ohio River and the Cherokee and Chickasaw tribes from south of the Cumberland River. During this time, no Indian nation held possession of the land that would eventually become Kentucky.

Although it sided with the Confederacy during the Civil War, the population was deeply divided, and many Kentucky residents fought for the North. Known primarily as an agricultural area into the 20th century, Kentucky is also a major U.S. coal producer and site of the U.S.military bases Fort Knox and Fort Campbell. It is also known as the home of the legendary Kentucky Derby horse race and bluegrass music, pioneered by Kentucky native Bill Monroe.

In 1774, James Harrod constructed the first permanent settlement in Kentucky at Fort Harrod, the site of present-day Harrodsburg. Boonesboro was established in 1775, and many other settlements were created soon after. Kentucky prides itself on producing some of the nation's best tobacco, horses, and whiskey. Corn, soybeans, wheat, fruit, hogs, cattle, and dairy products are among the agricultural items produced.

At the time of its admission to the Union in 1792, Kentucky was considered to be on the nation's western frontier, and this was reflected in the symbolism of the state seal. According to the design specifications adopted on June 14, 1962, the seal shows two men embracing; one of the figures is a frontiersman in buckskins, and the other is a gentleman in formal frock coat and pants.

The flag consists of the Commonwealth's seal on a navy blue field, surrounded by the words "Commonwealth of Kentucky" above and sprigs of goldenrod, the state flower, below. The seal depicts a pioneer and a statesman embracing. Popular belief claims that the buckskin-clad man on the left is Daniel Boone, who was largely responsible for the exploration of Kentucky, and the man in the suit on the right is Henry Clay, Kentucky's most famous statesman.

The Kentucky state flag follows in the footsteps of many other flags. Kentucky began as a French colony, so it was initially represented by the flag of France. It was eventually given to the British Empire, at which point the Union Jack came into use. That flag fell out of use during the Revolutionary War, which Kentucky spent as part of Virginia. The Flag Company Inc specialized in flag designs offered a special edition of decals and flags to memorize the history of Kentucky Flag for the future.




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