The American flag, also known as the Stars and Stripes or Old Glory, is one of the most recognizable national symbols in the world. The flag consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, representing the original 13 colonies. In the upper left corner is a blue rectangle known as the canton, bearing 50 small white 5-pointed stars arranged in 9 offset horizontal rows, representing the 50 states. With its iconic red, white, and blue color scheme, the American flag is a bold and patriotic representation of the United States.
History of the American Flag
The design of the American flag has evolved over the country’s history. The first official national flag, the Continental Colors or Grand Union Flag, was approved by Congress on June 14, 1777. This flag consisted of 13 alternating red and white stripes with the British Union Jack in the canton. After the United States gained independence, Congress passed the Flag Act of 1777, which kept the 13 stripes but replaced the Union Jack with a blue canton containing 13 white stars in a circle, representing the 13 original colonies. Over the next two centuries, stars were added to the flag as more states joined the union, resulting in the current design of 50 stars on a blue canton.
While the basic elements of the flag have stayed consistent, there have been 27 different versions as the number of states grew. The 48-star flag came into use after Arizona and New Mexico were admitted as states in 1912. The current 50-star flag became official on July 4, 1960 after Hawaii became a state in 1959. This version of the flag has remained unchanged for over 60 years.
Flag Design Specifications
There are specific design rules and regulations for the United States flag outlined in Executive Order 10834 and the U.S. Flag Code. Some key specifications include:
- The flag has a blue canton filling the upper left quarter of the flag.
- The canton has 50 white 5-pointed stars arranged in horizontal staggered rows.
- The 13 alternating red and white stripes are of equal width.
- The stripes are horizontal and run from left to right on the obverse side of the flag.
- The overall proportions of the flag are 10:19 – meaning the flag is 1.9 times as long as it is tall.
These specifications standardize the design and ensure consistency in the flags made for government buildings, military use, and private sale.
Dimensions of the Flag
The official proportions of the American flag are 1:1.9. However, the actual dimensions can vary based on the size and purpose of the flag. Some common dimensions include:
- 3 ft x 5 ft – Common for outdoor flags displayed on poles.
- 2 ft x 3 ft – Popular indoor display size fitting on a stand.
- 4 ft x 6 ft – Large enough for hanging on the front of buildings.
- 5 ft x 8 ft – Ideal for flying on a residential in-ground flagpole.
- 8 ft x 12 ft – Large stand-alone flag often seen on stage at events.
- 20 ft x 38 ft – Huge flags used for big venues such as sports stadiums.
The largest American flag approved for display is a massive 505 ft x 956 ft flag flying at the Acuity Insurance headquarters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
Composition of the Colors
The red, white, and blue colors of the American flag each hold specific meaning:
- White – symbolizes purity and innocence.
- Red – represents hardiness and valor.
- Blue – signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
The official colors are defined using the Pantone Matching System (PMS) for consistency. They are:
- White – PMS White
- Red – PMS 193 C
- Blue – PMS 282 C
There are also specific rules around proper handling and display of the flag dictated in the U.S. Flag Code. This includes guidance on showing respect, proper illumination, and retirement of damaged or worn flags.
Calculating the Red Area
With 13 equal horizontal stripes alternating red and white, 7 of the 13 stripes on the American flag are red. Each red stripe takes up 1/13 or 7.69% of the area of the flag.
With 7 red stripes comprising 7.69% each of the total area, the total red area on the American flag is:
7 stripes x 7.69% per stripe = 53.83%
So the red area makes up 53.83% of the total area of the American flag. Just over half of the flag is red.
Visualizing the Red Area
Here is a chart visually showing the area calculation:
| Color | Number of Stripes | Area per Stripe | Total Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 7 | 7.69% | 53.83% |
| White | 6 | 7.69% | 46.17% |
| Total | 13 | 100% | 100% |
This helps visualize how with 7 of the 13 stripes being red, the red stripes comprise just over half (53.83%) of the total area of the American flag.
Historical Red Area Percentages
While the current American flag has 13 stripes, some earlier versions had different numbers of stripes representing the states at the time:
- 9 red and 8 white stripes = 47.37% red (1777-1795 flags with 13 stars)
- 10 red and 9 white stripes = 52.63% red (1796-1818 flags with 15 stars)
- 11 red and 10 white stripes = 52.38% red (1819-1820 flags with 20 stars)
- 12 red and 11 white stripes = 52.17% red (1822-1836 flags with 23-24 stars)
So in the earliest 13-star flags, the red made up less than half of the area. But after Vermont and Kentucky joined, the 14th stripe was red, tipping the color balance so that over 52% of the flag became red.
As more states joined, the number of stripes was fixed at 13 since it would be impractical to keep adding stripes. So the percentage settled at 53.83% we have today as the blue canton expanded to hold more stars.
Star Field Area
The star field, also known as the union or canton, takes up 1/4 or 25% of the total area of the American flag. This field is filled with 50 small white stars on a blue backdrop. So the blue area accounts for 25% of the flag, while the white stars make up only a tiny fraction.
Applying Ratios to Other Flag Sizes
The red area percentage can be used to calculate how much red fabric is needed for different sized American flags. For example, on a common 3 ft x 5 ft flag:
- Total area: 3 ft x 5 ft = 15 sq ft
- Red area percentage: 53.83%
- Red area: 15 sq ft x 53.83% = 8.07 sq ft
So to make a 3 x 5 feet American flag, you would need 8.07 square feet of red fabric for the stripes.
This area ratio stays the same as the flag scales – a 50 ft x 90 ft flag would need 53.83% or 48.45 sq ft of red fabric. The consistent proportions and standardized color schemes make the American flag highly recognizable and a bold patriotic symbol.
Conclusion
The American flag’s iconic design has 7 red stripes alternating with 6 white stripes, comprising a total of 13 equal horizontal stripes. With 7 of the 13 stripes red, the red stripes account for 7.69% of the flag area each, for a total of 53.83% of the flag’s area being red.
This ratio has been consistent on the standard 13-stripe flags since the addition of the 14th stripe in 1795. The red area makes up just over half the flag, with the white stripes accounting for the remaining 46.17%. The top blue canton with white stars covers 25% of the total area. Understanding the flag ratios helps in creating accurate reproductions at any size.
So in summary, the percentage of the American flag that is red is 53.83%. This reflects 7 red stripes out of 13 total stripes each occupying 7.69% of the total area. The consistent design makes the red, white, and blue symbol of American independence recognizable worldwide.
