Gov. Spencer Cox introduced a new state flag on March 21, 2023, that is much different from the previous design. While the Utah flag has gone through minor changes over the years, it has not faced a complete redesign since 1913. The flag was not made official until March 9 despite it having flown across the state for almost a year.
The new flag gives a modern twist to the former one but still incorporates the iconic beehive that has represented Utah since 1848. The blue stripe at the top of the flag is intended to represent Utah’s wide open skies and its lakes, while the center stripe is white with a jagged shape to depict the mountainous landscape the state is known for. At the bottom, the flag features its final red stripe as a nod to Utah’s red rock canyons.
A change has been in the works since 2018, but no progress was made until 2020 when a bill was finally started in the state Senate. They approached Utah Jazz graphic designer Ben Barnes to develop prototype designs, all of which featured the same colors as the final product. In 2021, a bill was finally passed that created a task force specifically dedicated to the redesign.
The search for the new flag started in 2022 when the Utah State Flag Task Force welcomed suggestions from the public and received over 5,700 submissions. Of those, 20 designs were presented to the public to vote on, and after 44,000 responses promoted five finalists, the task force then selected the official design.
With the bill approving the new flag going into effect this month, there is still controversy and opposition from Utah residents despite the old one still being required to fly over the state capitol at all times.
Author: Anden Garfield
Photo courtesy of Taylor Emerson/Utah State University
Editor: Anna Mower
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