The History and Meaning of the Chicago Flag
My mom visited recently and we discussed the Chicago flag. Mom has visited a thousand times, so when she asked, “Chicago has a flag? I don’t know what it looks like.”
Well, I nearly fell off my stool.
If you live here — you know — the flag is everywhere. As in ubiquitous. Not only does it fly around the city freely, it graces more merchandise (t-shirts, hats, mugs, art, etc.) than you can fathom.
Chicago didn't always have a flag, and as recently as 60 years ago it was virtually unknown. But after popularity surged in the mid-1990s, Chicagoans became quite smitten and very proud of their municipal flag and all that it represents.
If you don’t notice it — virtually everywhere — just take a closer look at the citizens.
The Most Popular City Tattoo in the World
Bold claim? Probably — but go ahead, prove me wrong.
According to an article in DNA Info, one parlor owner in West Town receives so many requests for Chicago flag tattoos that he created an informational poster to educate clients.
According to Nick Colella, owner of Great Lakes Tattoo , “No one knew what it was about, but they wanted it. It drove me nuts.”
He now sells the poster for $20.
Looking for inspiration? Explore more at Chicago Flag Tattoos.
The Meaning of the Stripes on the Chicago Flag
The Chicago flag features three white horizontal bands and two blue stripes. Each stripe carries both local and national symbolism.
White Stripes
“White, the union of all the colors, to symbolize the union of all the races in the city of Chicago.” — Wallace Rice
- Top White Band: Represents the North Side of Chicago, the Atlantic Coast nationally, and countries east and north of the United States.
- Center White Band: Represents the West Side, the Great Central Plain, and the United States as a whole.
- Bottom White Band: Represents the South Side, the Pacific Coast, and countries west and south of the United States.
Blue Stripes
“Blue, the color of the lake and river, of distant mountains, and of the oceans.” — Wallace Rice
- Upper Blue Stripe: Represents the North Branch of the Chicago River, the Allegheny Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Great Lakes.
- Lower Blue Stripe: Represents the South Branch of the Chicago River, the Rocky Mountains and Sierras, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Meaning of the Four Red Stars
The Chicago flag features four red six-pointed stars. Each star represents a major event in Chicago history, and each of the six points carries additional symbolic meaning.
Star #1 — The Great Chicago Fire (1871)
- Transportation
- Trade
- Finance
- Labor and Industry
- Population
- Healthfulness
Star #2 — The World’s Columbian Exposition (1893)
- Religion
- Education
- Aesthetics
- Beneficence
- Justice
- Civism
Star #3 — The Century of Progress Exposition (1933)
- Chicago as a global city
- “Urbs in Horto”
- “I Will”
- The Great Central Market
- The Wonder City
- The Convention City
Star #4 — Fort Dearborn (Added 1939)
- French domination
- British domination
- Virginia territory
- Northwest Territory
- Indiana Territory
- Illinois statehood
The addition of this star remains a topic of historical discussion.
The Ongoing Debate Over a Fifth Star
Proposals for a fifth star have included:
- Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette
- Chicago’s role in the nuclear age
- Richard J. Daley or Harold Washington
- Chicago Bulls championships
- Hosting the Olympics
The Chicago History Museum hosts a permanent exhibit titled “The Fifth Star Challenge.”
Why the Chicago Flag Remains One of the Most Popular in the World
In 2004, the North American Vexillological Association ranked Chicago’s flag #2 out of 150 flags — second only to Washington, D.C.
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Chicago Flag FAQs
What do the stars on the Chicago flag mean?
Each of the four red six-pointed stars represents a major event in Chicago history: the Great Chicago Fire (1871), the World's Columbian Exposition (1893), the Century of Progress Exposition (1933), and Fort Dearborn (added in 1939).
What do the stripes on the Chicago flag mean?
The Chicago flag consists of three white horizontal bands and two blue stripes. The white bands represent the North, West, and South Sides of Chicago. The blue stripes represent Lake Michigan and the branches of the Chicago River.
How old is the Chicago flag?
The Chicago flag was officially adopted on April 4, 1917. It is now over 100 years old.
What is a Chicago resident called?
A resident of Chicago is commonly referred to as a Chicagoan.
What does Chicago mean?
The name Chicago derives from the Algonquian word “shikaakwa,” referring to wild garlic or ramps that once grew abundantly in the region.
