The today's flag of Utah was introduced on 9th of March in 2024. It shows three horizontal, irregular stripes in blue, white and red. The white stripe in the middle contains a blue hexagon outlined in gold. A gold-coloured beehive appears within the hexagon, and a five-pointed white star is placed below it. It is called the "Beehive Flag". The upper blue stripe symbolises the sky and the lakes of Utah as well as faith, knowledge and freedom. The white stripe symbolises five mountain peaks, representing the snow-capped mountains of Utah. They symbolise peace and the eight Native American tribes of the state. The red stripe represents a rock canyon, symbolising the majestic landscapes of southern Utah and perseverance. The hexagon contains a beehive, representing prosperity, unity and Utah's state motto: "Industry" ("Diligence"). A five-pointed white star appears underneath. It stands for hope and is a reminder of the year 1896, when Utah became the 45th state to join the USA and was represented by an additional star in the blue field of the flag of the USA. It symbolises the state's loyalty to the US nation. The flag was therefore deliberately designed in the colours of the US flag. The colours of the flag appear to have been defined nevertheless, even in the HEX colour space: Blue = HEX #071D49, which would correspond to Pantone 655 C, Red = HEX #AA0200, which would correspond to Pantone 1805 C, and Yellow = HEX #FFB81D, which would correspond to Pantone 1235 C. The previous state flag of Utah was introduced on 11th of March in 1913. With the introduction of the new flag on 9th March in 2024, it was officially renamed the "Historic State Flag" and retains its official status and is intended for special occasions. It also continues to fly over the Utah Capitol. It is a solid blue bunting and features the central element of the state seal on a white shield in the centre (beehive, sego lilies, the year 1847, and the state motto "Industry") surrounded by a golden circle. Below the shield appears another year: 1896. The years representing with 1847 the beginning of the settlement of the land by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (called "Mormons") under the leadership of Brigham Young, and with 1896 representing the year the state of Utah joined the United States. The gold-framed white shield (between 1922 and 2011 it was blue) shows – like the flag – a beehive. The beehive is reminiscent of the word "Deseret" from the Book of Mormon. It means "honey bee". The aim of the immigrants was to found their own Mormon state, which was to be called "Deseret". It was intended to remind the inhabitants to be as industrious as bees in order to make the barren land fertile. Hence the national motto "Industry". Flags of the USA appear to the left and right of the blue shield, and above it the heraldic animal of the USA, the bald eagle, holding a bundle of arrows in its claws. The first Mormon settlers, whose aim was to found the state of "Deseret", carried a flag that is now called the flag of the Mormon pioneers. It showed alternating white and blue stripes, thirteen of them, modelled on the flag of the USA. In the centre of a white upper corner was a five-pointed blue star, which stood for the Mormons, surrounded by a circle of twelve five-pointed blue stars, which stood for the twelve tribes of Israel. This flag is still used today by the Mormons in Utah. The existence of the Mormon state of Deseret, which was founded on 12th of March in 1849, was dependent on the goodwill of the USA. This is probably why Deseret introduced a flag that resembled that of the USA. It also featured thirteen red and white stripes. As the sources and traditions show, the upper corner was designed quite differently, probably with a local or religious emphasis. That upper corner was often blue, as in the US flag, but sometimes also white. It often featured the 13 stars (one of which was larger), the US eagle with a ribbon in its beak, a cannon and a beehive. The proportions of the sides of the flag were probably not fixed. There are reproductions with aspect ratios of up to 1:3. On 9th of September in 1850, the USA established a territorial administration and the Deseret Territory was founded. On 28th of March in 1851, the state of Deseret was abolished and in 1857/1858 there was even open warfare between the Mormons and the USA, as a result of which the Deseret Territory was renamed Utah Territory on 12th of April in 1858. It is said that the Utah Territory had its own flag from 1858 to 1860, making it the only US territory authorised to fly its own flag. It was plain blue and showed a coat of arms in the centre with a beehive, sego lilies, the year 1850 and the name "Utah" in a red banner below the shield. From 1903, a new flag was unofficially used again, which was officially introduced as the state flag on 9th of March in 1911. It was a plain blue bunting and showed in the centre, in white, the central element of the seal, the Utah coat of arms. It was retained for only two years and was replaced on 11th March in 1913 by a new flag, which was slightly modified on 9th of March in 2011: The shield of the coat of arms became white, and the year "1847" was moved to the shield. This flag was then in use until the introduction of the current flag.
early times/antiqutiy · settlement by Indians (eg Ute)
18th to 19th century · hesitant missionary work and slow colonization of the country by Spain (Viceroyalty of New Spain)
1819 · the US-american Long Expedition roams the area
1821 · the north of New Spain becomes as Mexico independent from Spain, the today's Utah is a part of Mexico
1843–1845 · the US-american Fremont Expedition roams the area
1846–1848 · war of the USA against Mexico, annexation of Mexican territory (the today's states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico)
1847–1860 · the first Mormons start to settle at the Great Salt Lake, and later in the Rockies
12th of March 1849 · founding of the Mormon State of Deseret (not recognized by the United States, Capital: Salt Lake City, Deseret claimes the areas of the today's states of Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Southern California)
9th of September 1850 · the United States establish a territorial administration (Deseret Territory, roughly the present states of Utah and Colorado), the leader of the Mormon Church Brigham Young is governor, Capital: Salt Lake City
28th of March in 1851 · the State of Deseret becomes abolished
4th of October in 1851 · Fillmore is capital
1856 · Salt Lake City is capital
1857–1858 · Utah War of the USA against the Mormons, under the pretext of the abolition of polygamy and the fight against secessionist attempts
12th of April 1858 · Brigham Young has to resign as governor, Alfred Cumming from Georgia is the new governor, renaming of the Deseret Territory to Utah Territory, capital: Parowan
1859 · Salt Lake City is capital
28th of February in 1861 · separation of the Colorado Territory
1862–1870 · parallel acting "shadow government" of the State of Deseret by Brigham Young
1882 · in polygamy living members of the Mormon Church lose the U.S. citizenship
1890 · the Mormon church abolishes the polygamy officially
4th of January 1896 · Utah is the 45th state to join the USA
The word "Utah" goes back to the Native American "Ute" people. "Ute" means "people of the mountains". When the settlement of the land by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (known as "Mormons") began in 1847, the Mormon state of Deseret was founded here. The word "Deseret" comes from the Book of Mormon. It means "honey bee". This name was intended to remind the inhabitants to be as diligent as bees in order to make the barren land fertile. In 1858, the name "Deseret" was officially abolished and replaced by "Utah", but it has survived to this day in the names of towns, companies, newspapers, etc.
