Flag of New York
Officially State of New York
What the flag looks like
A dark blue field with the state coat of arms: a shield showing the sun rising over the Hudson River with sailing ships, supported by Liberty and Justice, topped by an eagle on a globe, with the ribbons "E Pluribus Unum" and "Excelsior" below.
What it means
Liberty has a discarded crown at her feet to mark independence from Britain, Justice is blindfolded with scales, and "Excelsior" means "ever upward".
How to remember it
New York's
shield is flanked by two women, blindfolded Justice and Liberty, on blue; New Jersey's
women stand on buff, and Pennsylvania
uses horses.
Fun facts
- In 2020 the state added "E Pluribus Unum" on a scroll beneath the shield of the coat of arms, and so to the flag.
- The flag's design dates from 1901, but the arms themselves go back to 1778.
New York at a glance
- Nickname
- The Empire State
- Statehood
- 1788
- Capital
- Albany
- Region
- Mid-Atlantic
- Population
- 20 million
- Area
- 141,297 km²
- Flag adopted
- 2020
Flags often confused with New York
- New Jersey: New Jersey and New York both show a shield held by two standing women. New Jersey's field is buff with ploughs on the shield; New York's is dark blue with a sunrise over the Hudson.
- Pennsylvania: New York and Pennsylvania both put a shield with an eagle on top on dark blue. New York's shield is held by two women; Pennsylvania's by two black horses.