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The flag of North Dakota is the same as the flag used by the state military in the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War in the 1890s, except for the state name at the bottom of the flag. It was adopted as state flag in 1911; the colors were officially specified to match those of the original military flag in 1943.

The flag consists of a blue field, with an eagle as main charge. Like the eagle on the Great Seal of the United States, the eagle on the flag of North Dakota holds thirteen arrows and an olive branch in its talons and a ribbon with the motto "E Pluribus Unum" in its beak, and bears a shield with thirteen red and white stripes and a blue chief. Above the eagle are thirteen stars and a sunburst; below it is a scroll bearing the state name.

Coat of arms

Coat of Arms of North Dakota

State coat of arms

Section 54-41-01 of the North Dakota Century Code specifies the design (blazon) of the coat of arms thus:

  • Device: On an Indian arrowhead point to base Or a bend vert charged with three mullets of the first, in base a fleur-de-lis of the second.
  • Crest: On a wreath Or and azure, a sheaf of three arrows argent armed and flighted gules behind a stringed bow fessways Or with grip of the second (gules).
  • Motto: Strength from the soil.

The allusions made in the arms are laid down in section 54-41-02 NDCC:

  • "The colors of yellow, gold and green are indicative of the great agricultural state of North Dakota and has particular reference to ripening grain and the abundant grazing areas. The Indian arrowhead forms the shield of the coat of arms and symbolizes the "Sioux State." The three stars denote the trinity of government; legislative, executive, and judicial. Each star in the bend is given the heraldic value of thirteen which signifies the thirteen original colonies of the United States, and the cumulative numerical value of the three stars indicates that North Dakota was the thirty-ninth state admitted to the Union. The stars also allude to the history of the territory under three foreign flags. Three stars are borne upon the coat of arms of Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition and also on the coat of arms of Lord Selkirk, head of the first permanent settlement in this state. The fleur-de-lis alludes to La Vérendrye, a Canadian explorer who was the first known white man to visit the territory of this state. The blue and gold wreath in the crest reflects the history of the territory as part of the Louisiana purchase. The crest which shall constitute the military crest of the state of North Dakota is a motif taken from the state seal and to the Sioux Indian tribes signifies mighty warriors."

Proposals for a New Flag of North Dakota

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