The flag of Springfield, as it appears in 2007.

The municipal Flag of Springfield, Illinois is the lawful flag of the capital of the U.S. state of Illinois, Springfield. Its background is "Old Glory blue". The flag is emblazoned with a circle of 20 small, white stars, all pointed upward; the circle is offset, slightly, to the left of the flag. Those stars encircle a large, white-bordered "Old Glory red" star, also pointed upward. The center star is described as two stars, one atop the other, in the Springfield, Illinois Code of Ordinances. Today, the flag has the words "Springfield, Illinois," across its bottom; earlier photographs show no lettering on the flag. Image File history File links Springfield,_Illinois_flag. ... Image File history File links Springfield,_Illinois_flag. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Chief Justice Associate Justices Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Counties/Parishes/Boroughs, Cities, and Towns Other countries Politics Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Old Glory is a common nickname for the Flag of the United States, bestowed by William Driver, an early 19th century American sea captain. ... : Home of President Abraham Lincoln United States Illinois Sangamon 60. ...

Dimensions

In the case of hand-held or carried flags the proportions are 2:3, two units in height to every three in breadth. When the Springfield flag is flown on a flagpole, its proportion should be 1:2, unless the U.S. government prescribes differing dimensions for the United States flag, in which case the Springfield flag would defer to those dimensions. When the flag is displayed from windows or over the city streets it is allowed to be notched or pointed.^[1] The Dannebrog, national flag of Denmark. ... A flag is a piece of cloth flown from a pole or mast, usually intended for signaling or identification. ... Proportion A proportion is an equation with a ratio on each side. ... Flag ratio: 10:19; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars...

Display

The Springfield city clerk is considered the "custodian of the flag." The flag is displayed at city hall and at other municipal buildings and in public places. It is also displayed on specific national holidays or occasions when the flag is generally displayed. It is stipulated that the municipal flag should never take precedence over the United States flag.^[1] In the United States, a city clerk as an elected or appointed official who is charged with the responsibility of being the official keeper of the municipal records. ...

History

The flag was designed in a contest conceived by Springfield resident and famed poet Vachel Lindsay. The contest was sponsored by the Springfield Art Association and its winner was S.T. Wallace. The Springfield city council adopted the flag design on October 22, 1917 and it was first displayed on November 8, 1917.^[2] Today the flag is adorned with the word "Springfield, Illinois." Older photographs, dated May 14, 1953, show the flag, absent its lettering.^[2] Indeed, the Springfield Code of Ordinances makes no stipulation for the lettering which appears on the current flag.^[1] Instead, it describes a "pennant," similar in description to the flag. The pennant is described as containing the same elements and proportions as the flag, with the addition of the words. In the code the flag and pennant are described as two separate entities.^[1] Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (November 10, 1879 - December 5, 1931), an American poet born in Springfield, Illinois, became known as the Prairie Troubador. ... A city council is the most common style of legislative government in a city or town. ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... 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 (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 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 (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Unlawful uses

The city of Springfield's municipal code lays out three uses of the city flag which are considered unlawful. It is unlawful to use the Springfield municipal flag for any purpose other than "customary purposes of decoration or display."^[1] It is also against local ordinance to mar the flag with any letter, word, legend or device not provided for by the municipal code. In addition, it is against the law to use the flag for advertising purposes "by printing, stamping, or displaying thereon any letter, word, legend, or device not duly authorized."^[1]

See also

• Seal of Springfield, Illinois

Notes