What the Stars on the U.S. Flag Represent

One Star for Each State

Each of the 50 stars on the United States flag represents one of the 50 states in the Union. The star count has changed as the nation expanded.

Historical Progression

• 1777 (First Flag Act): 13 stars for the 13 original colonies.
• 1795: 15 stars (Vermont, Kentucky).
• 1818 (Flag Act): Fixed at 13 stripes; stars added on July 4 after each state's admission.
• 1912: 48 stars (Arizona, New Mexico) — arranged in 6 rows of 8.
• 1959: 49 stars (Alaska) — 7 staggered rows.
• 1960 (July 4): 50 stars (Hawaii) — current 9-row staggered pattern.

Design Details

Stars are five-pointed, white on a blue canton. The arrangement is specified by executive order (currently Eisenhower's 1959 order). There is no official meaning for the star's points; the five-pointed star was a common heraldic symbol.

Common Misconceptions

• The stars do not represent the original colonies (the 13 stripes do).
• There is no star for Washington, D.C., or territories.