Introduction

The flag of Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a distinctive and modern civic banner featuring a dark blue field with a central, stylized emblem. The design is characterized by a white circle containing a stylized, abstract representation of the city's skyline and geography. The circle is flanked on the left by a yellow sun and on the right by a green swoosh, creating a balanced and symbolic composition.

Adopted in 1955, the flag was the result of a public competition and represents a significant departure from more traditional heraldic city flags. Its clean lines and symbolic use of color were considered forward-thinking for its time and aimed to create a unique visual identity for the city.

The flag's design elements are intentionally abstract, meant to convey the city's character and environment rather than depict literal landmarks. This approach has made it a subject of both study and occasional public debate within vexillological circles, particularly regarding its adherence to design principles.

Meaning & Symbolism

The flag's central white circle symbolizes Minneapolis as the "City of Lakes", with the abstract shapes within it representing both the downtown skyline and the flow of the Mississippi River. The yellow sun on the left represents the city's clarity and achievement, while the green swoosh on the right symbolizes the city's natural parks and greenery.

The dark blue field signifies the importance of water to the city's identity and industry. Together, the colors and symbols are intended to reflect Minneapolis's status as a vibrant, progressive city deeply connected to its natural environment, with the sun and the river as central, life-giving forces.

History of the Minneapolis Flag

The flag was adopted on May 27, 1955, following a design competition organized by the Minneapolis City Council. The winning entry was submitted by Louise Sundin, a commercial artist who received a $250 prize for her work. The flag replaced an older, more complex banner that had been in use since the 1890s.

The adoption process and the flag's modern aesthetic were documented in local newspapers and city council records at the time. The design has remained unchanged since its official adoption, establishing it as one of the older continuously used municipal flags in the United States with a modernist design.

Curiosities

  • The flag's original design specifications called for the sun to be 'golden yellow' and the swoosh to be 'forest green', though exact color codes were not formally codified at adoption.
  • In a 2004 survey by the North American Vexillological Association (NAVA), the Minneapolis flag was ranked 21st out of 150 U.S. city flags, placing it in the top 15%.
  • The abstract shapes in the central circle are often interpreted as representing the Foshay Tower (the city's first skyscraper) and the Stone Arch Bridge, though the designer intended them to be non-literal symbols.

Download Flag

Download the flag of Minneapolis in high-quality SVG vector format or PNG raster images. SVG files can be scaled to any size without losing quality.

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Construction Sheet

The flag's official proportions are 3:5. The dark blue field occupies the entire flag. The central white circle is centered on the field with a diameter equal to three-fifths (3/5) of the flag's hoist (height). The yellow sun and green swoosh are positioned tangent to the circle, with their outermost points reaching toward the flag's edges, maintaining a balanced visual weight.

Flags Similar to Minneapolis Flag

Common Misidentifications

Rarely misidentified due to its unique, abstract emblem, but the color scheme is sometimes loosely associated with other flags featuring dark blue and white.