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Augusta, Georgia (U.S.)

Richmond County

2:3 image(s) by permission of David B. Martucci
image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright.

Current Flag
- Design
- Symbolism
- Selection
- Designer
More about the Flag
Former city flag
Augusta National Golf Club

See also:

Current Flag

Text and image(s) from American City Flags, Raven 9-10 (2002-2003), courtesy of the North American Vexillological Association, which retains copyright. Image(s) from American City Flags by permission of David B. Martucci.

Design

Augusta’s flag bears the city’s official service mark logo, in black figures and outline on a gold oval disk, centered on a field of dark forest green. On a field of 2 by 3 units, the oval is 1.5 units high and 2.1 units wide. The logo was designed for the consolidated government of Augusta and Richmond County created in May of 1996. It features the old Government House, a stately two-story structure with four windows on the top floor and a door to a balcony. The four windows on the first floor are partially obscured by bushes. The balcony is supported by what appear to be wrought iron pillars, forming archways about the first floor windows and door. Shutters flank all the windows. A chimney caps off each side of the house. Below the image is OLD GOVERNMENT HOUSE c.1800. Centered below this legend appears 1736 in larger numerals. In a ring around this inner oval field are AUGUSTA at the top and GEORGIA at the base.
Richard Monahan, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Symbolism

The selection of the Old Government House seems to show the appreciation and continuity of history in the municipality of Augusta. The stately, dignified structure is undoubtedly a source of pride in Augusta. The year 1736 marks the founding of the city.
Richard Monahan, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Selection

Approved at a meeting of the Augusta Commission.
Adopted: 5 December 2000
Richard Monahan, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Designer

Information unavailable.
Richard Monahan, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

More about the Flag

The dark forest green of the flag seems nearly blue in practice.
Richard Monahan, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Former City Flag

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 January 2008

From augustachronicle.com/stories/120800/met_073-5796.000.shtml (image archived here)

Augusta adopts new city flag
Green, gold standard reflects consolidated government
Web-posted Friday, December 8, 2000
By Heidi Coryell, Staff Writer

The city's got a brand new flag. On Tuesday, Augusta Commissioners adopted an updated consolidated government banner to replace city flags that have flown over downtown for 15 years. The bisected red and white flag with its blue circle of stars and city seal will be swapped out sometime early next year for a green banner adorned with the consolidated government's gold Old Government House seal. Commissioners were unsure of the exact history behind the old city flag, but local historians say the standard has a story.

During the mid-1980s, a local engineering firm was hired to plan downtown's riverwalk. Blueprints showed three flagpoles in the center of the walkway: one for the American flag; one for the state flag; and one for the city flag. "But Augusta didn't have a flag as far as we knew," said Tom Robertson, an engineer with Cranston, Robert & Whitehurst. Enter the city's own Betsy Ross: Rozelle "Rockie" Dinwiddie. She and her husband, Gray - then a dean at Augusta College - were charged by Mayor Charles DeVaney with creating a flag. Mrs. Dinwiddie recalls working into the midnight hours for five days, piecing together the pattern with scraps of fabric from the shelves of her sewing room. And on May 6, 1986, the flag was adopted by the city. "I was really tired after it was over because I didn't get too much sleep," said the now 77-year-old Mrs. Dinwiddie. "But I really enjoyed the process, and my husband did, too."

The flag design was updated from one they found on the cover of a 1939 Work Progress Administration publication. The city's blue circular seal was added at the mayor's request. But since the county and city combined in 1996, officials have talked of a new flag design, while the supply of old city flags has steadily diminished.

The gold emblem [in the new flag] represents prosperity. The green background stands for the Garden City. The color scheme also matches that of the Masters Tournament, he said.

Dov Gutterman, 6 January 2003

The former flag was a ~3:5 red flag with a dark blue cross throughout and 13 white upright five-pointed stars (12 set in lying ellipse incl. 4 on the cross arms and 2 on each quadrant, and a central one on the cross core), and a white hoist panel with the city seal in shades of dark blue centered on it. This seal included a house between two trees and around it lettering saying "City of Augusta, Georgia" (above) and "1736" (below), inside a ring line - i.e., including essentially the same elements and symbolism of the post-2000 version and differing only in the chosen color (blue on white to black on yellow) and shape (circle to horizontal ellipse).

If I understand correctly, this flag change reflected a change in governmental and administrative structure, already occurred in 1996, although one wonders that sometimes flag designs are changed just because the City Hall runs out of stock? After all, the text and basic elements did not change. Here's the relevant quote: "since the county and city combined in 1996, officials have talked of a new flag design, while the supply of old city flags has steadily diminished."
António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 January 2008

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 January 2008

The ~1985-2000 flag was apparently made from a previous one, which lacked the white panel, according to the article from the Augusta Chronicle website (2000.12.08): "The flag design was updated from one they found on the cover of a 1939 Work Progress Administration publication. The city's blue circular seal was added at the mayor's request." My speculative reconstruction of this ca. 1939 design attached as <us-gaau0.gif>. (Any harder data about this flag?)
António Martins-Tuválkin, 24 January 2008

Augusta National Golf Club

image by James T. Smith, Jr., 6 December 2001

I have attended the Masters Golf Tournament for several years, and have seen this flag there. I have drawn it from several photos I have taken during practice rounds at the golf tournament. It flies from the pole in front of the clubhouse. Based on photographs, and in making a comparison with the U.S. Flag flying above the ANGC Club flag, I believe the club flies a 6' x 10' U.S. flag, and that the size of the club flag is 5' x 8'.

The course was designed by Bobby Jones and Alister MacKenzie in 1931, and opened for play in 1932. It is a private club, and is the site of the Masters Tournament, held annually during the second week of April. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was a member during his terms in office as President of the United States.
James T. Smith, Jr., 6 December 2001