![[Springfield, Illinois flag]](../images/u/us-il-sp-l.gif)
3:5 image(s) by permission of David B. Martucciimage(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright.
Last modified: 2022-08-05 by rick wyatt
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3:5 image(s) by permission of David B. Martucci
image(s) from American City Flags,
Raven 9-10 (2002-2003),
courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright.
See also:
Text and image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) from American City Flags by permission of David B. Martucci.
Springfield's flag has a dark blue field. On a flag of 3 by 5
units, 20 white five-pointed stars (all oriented upward) form a circle 2
units in diameter in the upper hoist half of the flag, about one-quarter
unit from the top and one-half unit from the hoist. In the center of the
circle is a large red five-pointed star bordered in white, one point oriented
to the top. Centered across the bottom of the flag in gold block
letters in an Arial-type font one-third unit in height is SPRINGFIELD
ILLINOIS (without punctuation).
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
A contest was conceived by the poet, Vachel Lindsay
(1879-1931), a native of Springfield, and sponsored by the Springfield
Art Association.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
S.T. Wallace, a citizen of Springfield.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
![[Springfield, Illinois flag]](../images/u/us-il-spo-l.gif)
3:5 image(s) by permission of David B. Martucci
image(s) from American City Flags,
Raven
9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association,
which retains copyright.
The early version of
the flag does not have the city's
name across the bottom, and
the circle of stars is centered
vertically. Moreover, the red
star points downward rather
than upward. It is not known
when the original design was altered, or by whom, but the original design
was still in use in 1953. The flag was first exhibited on 8 November
1917.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags,
Raven
9-10,
2002-2003
From the Beloit Daily News:
City flies five flag versions
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) You're a grand old flag - all five of you. Springfield city officials are scratching their heads over multiple variations of the city flag that a resident discovered. There are three different versions alone in the
same city block on display in the city council chambers, flying outside the municipal buildings, and waving above the main fire station next door. "It's almost a comedy of errors," said Dr. John Navins, a physician who found the differences while researching the flag's history earlier this year. Brian McFadden, chief of staff to Mayor Karen Hasara, said city officials likely would research the city code and try to ensure that there's a uniform flag design. "We want to display the proper flag, but at this point we don't really know what is the proper flag," McFadden said.
The design was chosen in a 1916 contest. The winning design, chosen from 38 entries, called for an "Illinois blue" flag with a circle of 20 white stars toward the staff end of the flag. The 20 white stars symbolized the first 20 states admitted to the union. In the center was another white star, representing Illinois, the 21st state, with a red star for Springfield in the middle of it.
located by Dov Gutterman, 1 January 2003
![[City Seal]](../images/u/us-il-sp).gif)
located by Paul Bassinson, 10 July 2019
Image obtained from
https://www.springfield.il.us/
Paul Bassinson, 10 July
2019
