Municipal Flag of the City of Chicago

The municipal flag of Chicago consists of two blue horizontal stripes on a field of white, each stripe one-sixth the height of the full flag, and placed slightly less than one-sixth of the way from the top or bottom, respectively. Between the two blue stripes are four red, six-pointed stars arranged in a horizontal row.

In a review by the North American Vexillological Association of 150 American city flags, the Chicago city flag came in 2nd with a rating of 9.03 out of 10. NAVA flag The North American Vexillological Association (NAVA) is a body devoted to the study of flags. ...

Symbolism

Stripes

The three white stripes of the flag represent, from top to bottom, the North, West and South sides of the city. The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River. The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the Chicago River and the Great Canal. Sunset on Lake Michigan Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America. ... Downtown buildings line the Chicago River The Chicago River is 156 miles (251 km) long, and flows through downtown Chicago, Illinois. ... The location and course of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. ...

Stars

The four red stars on the center white stripe, from left to right:

• The first star represents the Fort Dearborn Massacre of 1812. It was added to the flag in 1939. Its six points symbolize transportation, labor, commerce, finance, populousness, and salubrity.

• The second star stands for the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and is original to the 1917 design of the flag. Its six points represent religion, education, aesthetics, justice, beneficence, and civic pride.

• The third star symbolizes the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, and is original to the 1917 design. Its six points stand for political entities Chicago belonged to: France 1693, Great Britain 1763, Virginia 1778, the Northwest Territory 1798, Indiana Territory 1802, and Illinois 1818.

• The fourth star represents the Century of Progress Exposition (1933-1934), and was added in 1933. Its points refer to: the World's Third Largest City, Chicago's Latin Motto (Urbs in horto - City in a garden), Chicago's "I Will" Motto, Great Central Marketplace, Wonder City, Convention City.

Combatants Potawatomi United Kingdom United States Commanders Chief Blackbird Nathan Heald Strength 500+ 69 military + civilians Casualties 15 39 military + 27 civilians The Fort Dearborn massacre occurred on August 15, 1812 near Fort Dearborn in the United States during the War of 1812. ... 1812 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Artists rendering of the fire, by John R Chapin, originally printed in Harpers Weekly The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Oct. ... 1871 (MDCCCLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... One-third scale replica of Daniel Chester Frenchs Republic, which stood in the great basin at the exposition, Chicago, 2004 The Worlds Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago Worlds Fair), a Worlds fair, was held in the U.S. city of Chicago in 1893 to celebrate... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ... Events January 11 - Eruption of Mt. ... 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... 1778 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Northwest Territory, also known as the Old Northwest and the Territory North West of the Ohio, was a government and region within the early United States. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Map of the Indiana Territory Indiana Territory was an organized territory of the United States from 1800 to 1816, created by Act of Congress and signed into law by President John Adams on May 7, 1800, effective on July 4. ... --69. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... A 1933 Century of Progress worlds fair poster The Century of Progress Exposition was a worlds fair held in Chicago, Illinois from 1933-1934 to celebrate Chicagos centennial. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

History

In 1915, Mayor William Hale Thompson appointed a municipal flag commission, chaired by Alderman James A. Kearnes. Among the commission members were wealthy industrialist Charles Deering and impressionist painter Lawton S. Parker. Parker asked lecturer and poet Wallace Rice to develop the rules for an open public competition for the best flag design. Over a thousand entries were received. In the end, the commission chose the design by Wallace Rice himself. On April 4, 1917, the commission's recommendation was accepted by the city council. William Hale Thompson campaigns for Mayor in 1917. ... Charles Deering (born July 31, 1852, Paris, Maine; died February 5, 1927, Miami, Florida) was a U.S. business man and philanthropist. ... Lawton S. Parker (1868 - 1954) was an American impressionist painter. ... Wallace Rice (born 1859, Hamilton, Ontario died December 15, 1939, Chicago) was an author, lecturer, and poet. ... April 4 is the 94th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (95th in leap years). ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar. ...

In 1933, under Mayor Edward Joseph Kelly, a third star was added in honor of the ongoing World's Fair. And, in 1939, on the recommendation of the Fort Dearborn Memorial commission, the city council added the fourth star to commemorate the Fort Dearborn Massacre. 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Edward Joseph Kelly (born: May 1, 1876; died: October 20, 1950; buried in Calvary Cemetery) served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1933-1947) for the Democratic Party. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Combatants Potawatomi United Kingdom United States Commanders Chief Blackbird Nathan Heald Strength 500+ 69 military + civilians Casualties 15 39 military + 27 civilians The Fort Dearborn massacre occurred on August 15, 1812 near Fort Dearborn in the United States during the War of 1812. ...

External links

• Municipal Code of Chicago (sections pertaining to Municipal Flag)
• NAVA city flag survey

References

• "Art and Architecture: How the Chicago Municipal Flag Came to be Chosen", Chicago Daily Tribune, July 17, 1921, p. 21.
• "City Gets New Flag Today with Third Star for 1933 Fair", Chicago Daily Tribune, October 9, 1933, p. 7.
• "Fort Dearborn Gets a Star on Chicago's Flag", Chicago Daily Tribune, December 22, 1939. p. 18.