West Virginia State Flags

History of the West Virginia State Flag

The flag of West Virginia was officially adopted on March 7, 1929. The flag features a white field with a dark blue border, on which the state's coat of arms is emblazoned. The coat of arms features a rock bearing the date of the state's admission to the Union, 1863, and the state's motto, "Mountaineers are always free." Above the rock is a farmer and a miner, representing agriculture and industry. The two men stand on either side of a red Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom and liberty, which is centered above a red and white striped banner bearing the state's name. The flag was designed by Dr. Harold Holt, a member of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.