North Carolina’s state flag has a blue vertical band on the hoist side, with a white star and the letters “N” and “C” in gold, plus two gold scrolls with the dates May 20, 1775 and April 12, 1776. The rest of the flag has a red stripe on top and a white stripe on the bottom.

What it means

  • Blue represents loyalty and justice, while red and white reflect the same colors used in the U.S. flag.
  • The white star stands for North Carolina as one of the original 13 colonies.
  • The two dates refer to the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the Halifax Resolves.

Quick look

Here’s the design in simple terms:

  • Left side: blue field with star, “N C,” and gold ribbons.
  • Right side: horizontal red over white stripes.

History

The current design dates to 1885, though the flag was revised over time and its symbolism was formalized in later state action.