On November 3, 2020, Mississippi voted on the In God We Trust (New Magnolia) flag to replace the old flag, Afterward, it was passed by the state legislature on January 6, 2021, and it became the official state flag of the U.S. state of Mississippi on January 11, 2021. The former flag was adopted by Mississippi in 1894, replacing the flag that had been adopted in 1861. It was the sole remaining U.S. state flag that bore the Confederate battle flag's saltire, from Georgia's adoption of a new flag in 2003 until the Mississippi flag was officially retired on June 30, 2020.
Prior to 1861, like most states, Mississippi had no state flag. When Mississippi declared its secession from the Union on January 9, 1861 near the start of the American Civil War, spectators in the balcony handed a Bonnie Blue Flag down to the Session Convention delegates on the floor, and one was raised over the capitol building in Jackson as a sign of independence.
The first official flag of Mississippi was known as the Magnolia Flag. It was the official flag of the state from 1861 until 1865 and it remained in use as an unofficial flag until 1894, when the current flag was adopted. On January 26 the delegates to the Secession Convention of the newly formed Sovereign Republic of Mississippi approved the report of a special committee that had been appointed to design a coat of arms and “a suitable flag.” The flag recommended by the committee was: “A Flag of white ground, a Magnolia tree in the centre, a blue field in the upper left hand corner with a white star in the centre, the Flag to be finished with a red border and a red fringe at the extremity of the Flag.” Due to time constraints and the pressure to raise “means for the defense of the state” the delegates actually neglected to officially adopt the flag in January, but did so when they reassembled in March.
The Magnolia Flag was not widely used or displayed during the Civil War, as the various Confederate flags were displayed more frequently. The Magnolia Flag remained the official state flag of Mississippi until 1865, when following the conclusion of the Civil War, a constitutional convention assembled in Jackson on August 22 began to revoke and repeal many of the actions taken by the Secession Convention of 1861. Among those repealed was the ordinance adopting a coat of arms and a state flag, leaving Mississippi without an official flag.
On February 7, 1894, the Legislature replaced the Civil War era Magnolia Flag with a new one designed by Edward N. Scudder. This second state flag consisted of three equal horizontal tribands of blue, white, and red, with the canton of the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia. The 13 stars on the state flag officially represented "the number of the original states of the Union"; though they are sometimes thought to have been for states that seceded from the Union, plus Missouri and Kentucky which had Union and Confederate governments.
On April 17, 2001, a non-binding state referendum to change the flag was put before Mississippi voters. The proposal would have replaced the Confederate battle flag with a blue canton with 20 stars. The outer ring of 13 stars would represent the original Thirteen Colonies, the ring of six stars would represent the six nations that have had sovereignty over Mississippi territory, and the inner and slightly larger star would represent Mississippi itself. The 20 stars would also represent Mississippi's status as the 20th member of the United States. The new flag was soundly defeated in a vote of 64% to 36% and the old flag was retained.
In late June 2020, after mounting opposition to the state flag due to its inclusion of Confederate symbolism, Mississippi officially retired the flag and the state's governor announced that a new flag without Confederate imagery would be adopted. Later that month, Governor Tate Reeves appointed nine people to a commission to decide a new state flag for Mississippi. Using public submissions, the commission would determine the state flag by narrowing down the proposals until one has been decided, and then submit it to the state congress.
"Newer Magnolia Flag" Adaptation of 2020 "In God We Trust Flag" Choctaw star centered on simplified Magnolia leaf to create better symmetry. 20 star ring from Rocky Vaughn's original design reinstated, text removed to better reflect the five principles of vexillology, as well as secular government.
Alternative flag of MS, designer unknown
MS Flag Proposal "Pimsleurable"
MS Flag Proposal "Pimsleurable 2"
MS Flag Proposal "ironchefshark"
MS Flag Proposal "Tibbetts"
MS Flag Proposal "Jack Expo"
MS Flag Proposasl "everythingpossible"
MS Flag Proposal "SouthBear"
MS Flag Proposal "Mark Michalovic"
MS Flag Proposal "BigRed618"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
MS Flag Proposal "Laqueesha"
Mississippi State Flag Symplistic Proposal. I removed the confederate flag from the canton and replaced it with a star representing the state. By Ed Mitchell. 2013.
Mississippi State Flag Proposal No. 7 (Nordic Cross Style Swallow Tail) Designed By: Stephen Richard Barlow 10 FEB 2015 at 0323 HRS CST. Credit For Nordic Cross Swallow Tail Concept to: AlternateFlags
MS Flag Proposal "AusPanda90"
MS Flag Proposal "Bmoxey 1"
MS Flag Proposal "Bmoxey 2"
MS Flag Proposal "Jabask"
MS Flag Proposal "Lukep323"
MS Flag Proposal "MacManji"
MS Flag Proposal "Jensen"
MS Flag Proposal "The Dark Soviet"
MS Flag Proposal "Zmijugaloma"
Mississippi flag proposal by Achaley.
MS flag proposal by 5thEye
MS Flag Proposal "Simmons"
Blue and white triangle, representing the coming together of the great rivers. 19 stars, surrounding one large white star, showing Mississippi as the 20th state. The triangle is also the negative space iMississippi's place in an unseen "M," with colors showing Mississippi's historical place in both the Confederacy and the United States, without the use of the traditional "rebel" flag. By Will Allen King.
Mississippi flag proposal 1 by
Hans.
Jun 2015. (
details)
Mississippi flag proposal 2 by
Hans.
Jun 2015. (
details)
Mississippi flag proposal 3 by
Hans.
Oct 2016. (
details)
Mississippi flag proposal 4 by
Hans.
Oct 2016. (
details)
Mississippi flag proposal by James Dignan, February 2016. Shows a magnolia between wavy blue lines representing the river.
MS flag proposal #1 By
Dean Thomas. Based on the 1928-1994 South Africa flag, the CSA Battle Flag is replaced with three flags: The Bonnie Blue flag which was Mississippi's 'National' flag after the state seceded in January 1861, A 20-star U.S. flag symbolizing that the state was the 20th to join the Union, and a 7-star CSA Stars-and-Bars, symbolizing Mississippi as one of the original 7 Confederate states.
Mississippi flag proposal by Tim Ritz. Textless version.
"MissyBlueFly" Tiny section of the battle flag re-used to make a red triangle and white chevron. Magnolia star on Bonnie Blue. Design by Rotten Ali.
MS Flag proposal #2 by
Dean Thomas. The CSA Battle Flag is replaced by a vertical light blue stripe on the hoist side (representing the Mississippi River, which forms the western boundary of the state, and is what the state itself is named after). In the center of the White Stripe is a depiction of a magnolia tree.
Not my primary design, but one I have pride in due to the 20 blossom magnolia tree likeness and Bonnie Blue canton sat over border work. Design by Rotten Ali
Mississippi Flag Proposal #3 by
Dean Thomas. The CSA battle flag is replaced by a centralized depiction of a stylized magnolia flower within a white-bordered blue disc. Note: I Borrowed BMoxey2's magnolia flower design for this flag.
Dean Thomas' flag proposal #3 flag depicted flying from a flagpole.
Mississippi Flag Proposal #4 by
Dean Thomas. Variation on #3 by utilizing Magnolia flower design by
JabaskConceptual flag for Mississippi by Steven Abbot
Conceptual flag for Mississippi by Francisco Thoubard.
MS flag proposal by Ray Anselmo.
a variation on rotten ali design, maybe a better tree
This flag was proposed for Alabama, and can be seen on that state's page. It is a design by JJ Smith of "Graphicology", modified by Stephen Richard Barlow in 2015. I re-post it here and propose it as a better fit for Mississippi. This is a beautiful flag, rich in symbolism. It would represent a clean break with the past; leaving behind political controversy and historical baggage in favor of a clean sheet design. [Posted by Ken Morton]
Mississippi state flag designed by Ken Morton. This flag too would leave history and controversy behind with a mostly abstract design. The star represents Mississippi itself, while the red, white and blue roundel and stripes frame the star firmly within the symbolic traditions of American democracy.
My own version of a "Magnolia Flag." [Posted by Ken Morton]
Another 'Magnolia Flag', this one based upon the current Mississippi flag [Posted by Ken Morton]
Another proposal for a clean sheet design and another attempt at a break with history and politics. This flag is based upon an excellent design by Chris Sistrunk which I have modified by adding my own Magnolia flower and circle of twenty stars. [Posted by Ken Morton]
Perhaps a rather obvious solution to the 'problem' of the current Mississippi flag. And yet, there is much to be said for simplicity in design. Posted by Ken Morton [June 28, 2019].
My version of the design by Steven Abbot. The left side of the flag depicts the Mississippi River to the east. The right side of the flag depicts the green land of the state; a magnolia icon represents the state flower of the “Magnolia State.” Posted by Preston Knapp
[1]MS Flag Proposal "apollohawkridge 1"
MS Flag Proposal "apollohawkridge 2"
Proposal for a flag for Mississippi. By
Qaz Dec 2019 (
details)
Proposal for a flag for Mississippi. By
Qaz Dec 2019 (
details)
Proposal for a flag for Mississippi. By
Qaz Dec 2019 (
details)
Part of series of designs for state flags, all in blue and white. (Posted by Ken Morton)
"Magnolia Cross" (Magnolia flag variation) 2020
Proposed flag for Mississippi - Blue and red bisections with a magnolia signal overlaid.
Follow the description voiced by someone in local seat of xtate government and you get this...
maybe four stripes, ratio 3:5, and a canton that is 1/2 height gives over 15% area to the battle flag rather than 29.6%. Design by RottenAli.
Proposal for new Mississippi state flag.
Mississippi State Flag Proposal with official state seal that reads "In God We Trust" by Tucker B
Larger aspect ratio, confederate battle flag replaced with a magnolia flower.
Larger aspect ratio, confederate battle flag replaced with a magnolia flower and a ring of 13 stars.
The Magnolia flower on the Stars and Bars
Designed to resemble the American Flag. The stripes stand for every letter in "Mississippi"
Larger blue field, canton charged with a magnolia flower.
Larger blue field, canton charged with a magnolia flower and a ring of 13 stars.
Blue field with wavy pattern to represent the water. Canton charged with a magnolia flower.
Blue field with wavy pattern to represent the water. Canton charged with a magnolia flower and a ring of 13 stars..
A centered, square blue field. More authentic magnolia tepals with different shapes to simulate depth and the 3-dimensional structure. Bonus feature in the flower center: from afar, looks like a regular array of carpels, but up close, it is 20 golden stars in tight formation.
During the process where new designs are considered for a new state flag, US State Flags page on Facebook worked with the 147 designs elected to the official Round 2. These are our core results. Twice we have voted and twice the design of NcDinaldo has won - this is the better design of the 2nd round.
Alternate flag of Mississippi
Mississippi flag proposal by Ceasingmango426. August 2020.
Updated redesign by
SimplisticFlags, based on the old "Magnolia flag" and the "New Magnolia Flag" by Rocky Vaughn. (
details)
Larger aspect ratio, confederate battle flag replaced with a magnolia flower and a ring of 13 stars with "In God We Trust" in the bottom..
Step by step guide on how to make the new flag out of the old one.