Flag of Massachusetts
United States — State Flags · US-MA · Vector source, 4:3 aspect ratio
- RegionUnited States — State Flags
- ISO codeUS-MA
- Source formatSVG (infinitely scalable)
- Available downloadsSVG · PNG · JPG · WEBP · ICO · PDF
Download the flag of Massachusetts as SVG, PNG, JPG, WEBP, ICO or PDF in any resolution you need.
Basic Flag Information
| Flag Name | Flag of Massachusetts |
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| State | United States of America |
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| Official Name | State of Massachusetts |
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| Capital | Boston |
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| Continent | North America |
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| Region | United States |
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| ISO Code | US-MA / US-MA |
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| Internet Domain | .us |
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| Calling Code | +1 |
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| Currency | United States dollar (USD) |
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| Official Language(s) | English |
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| Demonym | Bay Stater |
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| Area | 27,336 km² |
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| Population | 7,001,399 |
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Flag Specifications
| Official Flag Name | Flag of Massachusetts |
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| Current Version Adopted | 1 January 1971 |
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| Design First Used | 1908 |
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| Flag Proportion | 3:5 |
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| Flag Shape | Rectangular |
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| Number of Colours | 4 |
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| Main Colours | White, Blue, Gold, Navy |
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| Designer | Massachusetts General Court |
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| Design Type | White field with the state coat of arms |
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| Nickname | No widely used nickname |
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| Official Status | Official state flag |
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| Governing Authority | State government of Massachusetts, within United States of America |
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Flag Colour Information
| Colour | Appearance | HEX Code | RGB | CMYK | Pantone |
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| White | | #FFFFFF | 255, 255, 255 | 0, 0, 0, 0 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Blue | | #31319C | 49, 49, 156 | 69, 69, 0, 39 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Gold | | #E6A300 | 230, 163, 0 | 0, 29, 100, 10 | No official Pantone reference |
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| Navy | | #1F2C5C | 31, 44, 92 | 66, 52, 0, 64 | No official Pantone reference |
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Flag Design and Symbolism
| Algonquian figure | Holding a bow and a downward-pointing arrow, a sign of peace |
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| White star | Massachusetts as one of the thirteen original states |
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| Motto | By the Sword We Seek Peace, but Peace Only Under Liberty |
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| White | Stands for the field of the flag. |
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| Blue | Stands for the shield of the coat of arms. |
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| Gold | Stands for the star, the arm and the sword hilt. |
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| Navy | Stands for the ribbon bearing the motto. |
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Flag History
| Year / Period | Event |
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| 1908 | The arms are placed on a white field |
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| 1 January 1971 | The reverse side is made identical to the obverse |
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| 2021 | A commission begins reviewing the seal and motto |
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| Present | The flag remains in official use |
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Flag Dimensions and Construction
| Official Ratio (height : width) | 3:5 |
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| Hoist (height) | 3 units |
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| Fly (width) | 5 units |
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| Layout | White field with the state coat of arms |
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| Band / Stripe Construction | No stripes; the arms are centred |
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| Construction Sheet Available | Yes |
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| Governing Specification | Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 2, Section 1 |
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How the Flag of Massachusetts Is Used
| Setting | Flown | Notes |
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| Government buildings | Yes | Flown on official premises |
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| Schools and public institutions | Yes | Common in daily and ceremonial use |
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| Private and civil use | Yes | May be flown by members of the public |
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| Public holidays and commemorations | Yes | Displayed on national days of remembrance |
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| Armed forces | No | Defence is a federal responsibility |
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| Naval ensign | No | States do not maintain their own navy |
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| Embassies abroad | No | Foreign relations are handled federally |
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| Alongside the national flag | Yes | Flown below or beside the flag of United States of America |
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| International sport | No | Athletes compete under the national flag |
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Other Official Flags of Massachusetts
| Flag Type | Purpose | In Use |
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| State flag | The primary flag shown on this page | Yes |
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| Civil flag | Flown by private citizens and organisations | Yes |
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| War flag | Carried by the armed forces on land | No |
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| Naval ensign | Flown at sea by naval and merchant vessels | No |
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| Air force ensign | Used by the air force | No |
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| Presidential standard | Marks the presence of the head of state | No |
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| Royal standard | Marks the presence of the monarch | No |
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| Historical flags | Earlier designs no longer in official use | Yes |
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Quick Facts About the Flag
| Years in Use (current design) | 55 years |
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| Adoption Date | 1 January 1971 |
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| Earliest Recorded Use | 1908 |
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| Designer | Massachusetts General Court |
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| Nickname | No widely used nickname |
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| Dominant Colour | White |
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| Flags It Resembles | Comparable to the many US state seal-on-white flags |
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| Notable Feature | White field with the state coat of arms |
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