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Cook County, Illinois (U.S.)

Last modified: 2024-08-31 by rick wyatt
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[Cook County, Illinois flag] image located by Dave Fowler, 14 June 2022

Known Flag - indicates flag is known.
No Known Flag - indicates it is reported that there is no known flag.

Municipal flags in Cook County:

New county flag

A new flag was adopted by the county:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-cook-county-new-flag-20220614-uj5bjjwctfhtxaurwlqxuigtx4-story.html

Cook County unveils new flag designed by high school student and inspired by 1893 World’s Fair goddess statue

After more than a half-century of having a flag that was often deemed forgettable, Cook County is getting a new banner that features a cleaner layout that plays up the county’s history. County officials on Tuesday unveiled their pick for the county’s new flag, which was announced on national Flag Day and is known as the “I Will Banner.”

Created by Glenbrook South High School student Drew Duffy, the new flag features a circle of seven-sided red stars on the left and a sideways blue, green and white Y-shaped stripe to the right. The blue symbolizes the county’s rivers and Lake Michigan, green is for the county’s nature and forest preserves, and white — the color of locomotive steam — represents innovation and commerce. The Y shape pays homage to the merging of the branches of the Chicago River at Wolf Point downtown and mirrors the city’s municipal device, Duffy said.

The flag’s name comes from a statue designed by artist Charles Holloway for the 1893 Columbian Exposition of a goddess figure suited for battle with a breastplate that read “I Will.” The name “embraces the fighting spirit and go-getter attitude of the people of Cook County,” according to the flag’s description.

 The six stars are each seven-pointed to represent each county region, plus Chicago and the forest preserves. There are six stars to represent the county’s founding in 1831; the opening of its flagship hospitals; the department of public health; forest preserves; the Arthur J. Audy home for juvenile detainees; and the county’s townships and local governments. The stars’ red color, Duffy said, is to represent the county’s bold history of “protest and progress,” including Martin Luther King Jr.’s fights for equal housing and workers’ rights in Chicago, Jane Addams’ founding of Hull House, and the Jewish residents of Skokie pushing back against Nazi protests.

Dave Fowler, 14 June 2022

Finalists announced for a new county flag:
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/cook-county-announces-finalists-for-new-county-flag-design/

A plan for a new flag for the county was announced back in December 2019, in celebration of the coming bicentennial anniversary of Cook County in 2031. The guidelines for the design context forbade any text, lettering, or numbering or reference to the current Cook County flag, seal, or map. It also suggested a maximum of four colors.
Dave Fowler, 18 March 2022

Flag until 2022

[Cook County, Illinois flag] image by Falko Schmidt, 25 December 2003

The flag of Cook County, Illinois:

The central design, mounted on a white field, shall consist of a cobalt blue, circular band, edged in golden yellow. Mounted on the blue band and arranged in a circle shall be 38 small stars, representing the 30 townships within Cook County outside of the City of Chicago, and the eight townships within Chicago. A 39th star, larger than the others, shall represent Chicago, the county's seat of government, and likewise shall appear on and at the apex of the circular band. All stars shall be five-pointed.

On the white field within the blue band shall appear an outline of the county map, upon which are shown township lines. This map shall be a golden yellow, with border lines and township lines traced in madder carmine. Across the face of the map and extending on each of its sides, but still within the blue band, shall appear a white scroll, delineated in cobalt blue. The scroll shall bear the inscription "JANUARY 1831," designating the month and year in which Cook County was created by the Illinois legislature.

On the white field above the central design shall appear in bold letters the work "COOK," and beneath the design, the word "COUNTY." All lettering on the flag shall be in capitals, colored madder carmine.

The flag shall be displayed, when possible, in such manner that, when unfurled its wording will appear on a horizontal line, or at an angle of not more than 45 degrees. The flag of Cook County shall be treated with respect at all times.
Source: www.co.cook.il.us/secretary/HomePage_Links/whats_cookin_in_cook_county_book.htm
submitted by: Falko Schmidt, 10 August 2001

Although the image is obviously from a patch, it is representative of the flag. It certainly looks like the Cook County flag I saw years ago flying in front of the Art Institute of Chicago. The patch may be from the Sheriff's department uniform or some such.
Al Kirsch, 4 September 2002

Image after a flag in the 4 x 6 flag collection of Don Klett.
Mason Kaye, 26 November 2003

The current Cook County flag was introduced in 1961. It was designed by four county employees and the county treasurer and was introduced by then-Cook County Board President Dan Ryan.
Dave Fowler, 18 March 2022

Seal

[Seal of Cook County] located by Paul Bassinson, 13 January 2018
Image obtained from www.cookcountyil.gov. 

Sheriff's Office

[Cook County Sheriff's Office] image located by Paul Bassinson, 31 May 2021