Flag of Portland, Oregon

Flag of Portland, Oregon
City of Portland
UseCivil and state flag Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagSmall vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flagReverse side is mirror image of obverse side
Proportion3:5
AdoptedSeptember 4, 2002; 21 years ago (2002-09-04)
DesignNordic-style Brigid's cross design with Blue stripes/arms double-fimbriated by gold on white esquarres, in the center a white astroid hypocycloid, on a green background.
Designed byDouglas Lynch

The city flag of Portland, Oregon, consists of a green field on which is placed a white four-pointed star (a truncated hypocycloid) from which radiate blue stripes, each bordered by L-shaped yellow elements (esquarres). Narrow white fimbriations separate the blue and yellow elements from each other and from the green background. The official ordinance specifies a height of 3 feet and a length of 5 feet for the flag.

Design and history

City ordinance 176874, adopted September 4, 2002, designates the design and its symbolism. Green represents "the forests and our green City"; yellow represents "agriculture and commerce"; and blue represents "our rivers".[1] Portland straddles the Willamette River near its confluence with the Columbia River. City Ordinance 186794, adopted September 3, 2014, updated the proportions and the Pantone color specifications: White, PMS 279 (Blue); PMS 349 (Green); and PMS 1235 (Yellow).

The flag was designed in 1969 by R. Douglas Lynch, a longtime Portland resident and noted graphic designer (1913–2009). The original version of the flag was adopted in January 1970 and, despite Lynch's objections, included a dark blue canton featuring the city seal in yellow and white. However, in 2002, Lynch and fellow members of the Portland Flag Association successfully persuaded the Portland City Council to simplify the design, aligning it more closely with this original vision.[citation needed]

Fans waving the flag at a Portland Timbers (Major League Soccer) Game.
The Portland Flag flying—upside-down.

The flag's design ranked seventh among the flags of 150 US cities in the North American Vexillological Association's "American City Flag Survey of 2004".[2]

Gallery

  • (1950)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag (1950)
  • (1958–1970)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag (1958–1970)
  • (1970–2002)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag (1970–2002)
  • (2002–present)
    Small vexillological symbol or pictogram in black and white showing the different uses of the flag (2002–present)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Chapter 1.06 Official Flag". The City of Portland, Oregon. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  2. ^ "2004 American City Flags Survey" (PDF). North American Vexillological Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2019.

Further reading

  • Purcell, John M.; James A. Croft; Rich Monahan (2003). "Portland, Oregon [by Mason Kaye]". American City Flags (Part 1: United States). Trenton, NJ: North American Vexillological Association. pp. 274–279. ISBN 0-9747728-0-1.

External links

  • City Flag general description and legal specification (from City Auditor's website)
  • Portland, Oregon (U.S.) at Flags of the World
  • 99% Invisible podcast, Episode 140: Vexillonaire – Tells the story of the 1969 & 2002 Portland flags
  • website of the Portland Flag Association
  • v
  • t
  • e
Flags of cities in the United States