Battle Born: The Proud History of the Nevada Flag

Silver is gold.

Congress admitted Nevada, the "Silver State" or "Battle Born State," into the United States on October 31, 1864. Many people know Nevada for Las Vegas, one of the world's biggest gambling and entertainment centers. But the history of Nevada involves a lot more than casinos.

One interesting part of the history of Nevada is the Nevada state flag. Many states settle on one flag. But Nevada has had four separate designs.

Know the rich history of the Nevada flag, and you can master a unique chapter of American history. Here is a quick guide.

The Early History of the Nevada Flag

Nevada was admitted into the Union in the midst of the Civil War. Nevadans had greater concerns than their symbols. It would take four decades for Nevadans to turn their attention to their flag.

In 1905, Governor John Sparks designed Nevada's first flag. It featured a blue background. The word, "Nevada," was written in the center, with "silver" along the top and "gold" at the bottom.

The flag featured thirty-six silver and gold stars. These stars signified that Nevada was the 36th state admitted into the United States.

This flag wasn't popular. In 1915, the State Legislature created a new official flag. It featured a blue background with the then-official seal of Nevada presented in the center.

The design featured 18 gold stars arranged around the word, "Nevada." 18 more silver stars were arranged below the words, "All for Our Country." This is the official state motto of Nevada.

This flag didn't command widespread support. The Legislature grew concerned that the flag was too expensive to produce.

The Legislature changed it again in 1929. The third flag featured a blue background, but the design was dramatically different.

The third flag presented a wreath of sagebrush, the state flower of Nevada. A white star sat in the middle of the wreath, and "Nevada" was spelled out between the star's points.

The flag also featured a scroll with the motto, "Battle Born." The scroll is gold-orange, and the tassels of the scroll wave out into space.

These designs lie in the upper-left corner of the flag. The rest of the flag features no designs.

The New Nevada Flag and Its Variants

The third Nevada flag commanded support for more than sixty years. But some grew concerned that "Nevada" was too hard to read.

In 1991, the Legislature approved a new bill to change the flag. "Nevada" was moved to a position beneath the star. The background became cobalt blue, a traditional symbol of royalty.

The fourth design has remained popular, and there are no major calls to change it. But that doesn't mean some people don't edit its design.

The state has approved a variant flag for the Governor of Nevada. The crest with the star, scroll, and sagebrush wreath lies in the center of the flag.

The scroll is yellow and the star is silver. Four silver stars appear on the flag, one in each corner.

There is a fifth flag that was proposed in 1953. It features three bands, one blue, one white, and one silver.

The white band features a red drawing of the state of Nevada. The words, "Battle Born," appear within the drawing. The word, "Nevada," then appears beneath the drawing.

Other flags have been proposed, but these designs have little support.

County Flags

Though the state flag is popular, every county has its own flag. Nevada is the only state in the Union where this is the case.

Carson City is the capital of Nevada. It is also its own country.

Its flag features an image of the capital building alongside an eagle and a man on a horse. A banner of cobalt blue runs through the center of the flag, reflective of the city's power. "Carson City" appears above the image of the capital, and "Nevada" appears below.

Las Vegas is located within Clark County. The Clark County flag is half dark blue and half white.

A crest lies in the center of the flag. It shows a cactus growing from the desert, under a yellow sky.

To the right is a dam, and to the left is a road leading to a city. The design celebrates the county's natural beauty and industrial wonders.

The City of Las Vegas has its own flag. It is blue with a stream of silver running diagonally across the flag.

A crest sits in the upper-left corner of the flag. It shows a skyscraper, a dam, and a cactus. Like the county flag, the city flag celebrates the landscape and industries that the city contains.

Flying the Nevada Flag

The state of Nevada has no official rules for flying its flag. If you want to install a flagpole, you should consult local ordinances and building codes. Your flagpole should be at least five feet taller than its surroundings.

When flying the state and national flags on the same pole, the national flag must remain on top. The Nevada flag should not be bigger than the national flag. If you want separate poles, the Nevada flag should be to the left of the national flag.

You can hang the flag of Nevada against your wall or on your window. Make sure the flag doesn't rest on the ground.

Salute the State Flag

Nevada history is rich with pioneers and firsts. Nevada is the first state to have four separate official flags. Learn about the Nevada flag and you can celebrate American history in a new way.

The legislature changed the state flag of Nevada twice within thirty years. The fourth design came in the 1990s.

A variant flag has been created to honor the Governor, while every county has its own flag. You can fly the Nevada flag alongside the American flag, provided that you follow the Flag Code.

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