South Carolina State Flags

History of the South Carolina State Flag

The current South Carolina state flag was adopted in 1961. It consists of a blue field with a white crescent in the upper left corner, and a white palmetto tree in the center.

The crescent on the flag represents the silver emblem worn on the caps of South Carolina soldiers during the American Revolution. The palmetto tree represents the role that the sabal palmetto tree played in the defense of Fort Moultrie, a key battle of the Revolution.

Prior to the adoption of the current flag, South Carolina had a number of different flags throughout its history. The first flag of South Carolina, adopted in 1775, was a blue field with a white crescent in the upper left corner, similar to the current flag. This flag was used until 1795, when a new flag was adopted with a red field and a white crescent.

In 1861, when South Carolina seceded from the Union, a new flag was adopted with a blue field and a white cross. This flag, known as the "Southern Cross," was used until the end of the Civil War in 1865. After the war, the state briefly returned to the flag adopted in 1795, before adopting the current flag in 1961.