This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website

Lincoln, Nebraska (U.S.)

Lancaster County

Last modified: 2022-07-23 by rick wyatt
Keywords: lincoln | nebraska | lancaster county |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors



[Flag of Lincoln, Nebraska] 2:3  image located by Ben Cahoon, 18 January 2022



See also:


Current Flag

The city of Lincoln, Nebraska, the state capital, has been running a contest to redesign the city's flag. The winning design was announced on January 10, 2022. According the the story the city council has to vote on its adoption at the council meeting on Jan. 24th. This is one in a series of new U.S. city flags being adopted the the last years.
Ben Cahoon, 18 January 2022

The City of Lincoln flag was adopted by the City Council on January 24, 2021. The flag was selected through a contest organized by the American Marketing Association - Lincoln and Lincoln Young Professionals Group.

The winning design, entitled All Roads Lead to Lincoln, was created by Ed Mejia, a local art director and graphic designer who immigrated to the United States from El Salvador. His design was inspired by the sight of Lincoln’s skyline emerging on the otherwise flat horizon as he first drove into town. He drew inspiration from art deco architecture and native peoples’ artwork displayed inside the capitol building and used intersecting lines to capture the interconnection of technology, agriculture, and commerce that have drawn people to Lincoln throughout our past, present, and into the future. The beacon featured in the center of the design symbolizes the hope and optimism that the people of Lincoln are known for, as well as our reputation as a safe harbor for those seeking to make our community their home.

Some of the recognizable imagery implied by the lines are a sunrise, the state capitol building, and an aerial view of the traditional center of town (the star located at 13th and O Street). The teal green is a nod to Lincoln’s verdant tapestry of parks, trails, trees, and green spaces – and the home of the Arbor Day Foundation. The deep blue represents groundwater aquifers, an abundant and valuable natural resource significant to our region. The warm gold represents a bright future and a place where all are warmly welcomed.

City Flag Protocol
The City Flag shall be displayed on city property with honor and shall be flown with dignity and respect.
The City Flag may be displayed in municipal offices and on city property, carried in parades and displayed at other occasions and locations.
The Mayor or their designee is authorized to order the raising or lowering to a half-mast position of city flags at properties and facilities owned or operated by the City of Lincoln, or on the grounds of the County-City Building.
When a City Flag is no longer a fitting emblem for display and becomes unserviceable or when it becomes faded or torn, it should be retired from further service with respect.

In the interest of fostering civic pride, the colors, design and theme of the City Flag of Lincoln may be creatively and enthusiastically promoted as an open-source design to be embraced throughout our City.

Pantone Colors:
Deep Blue: 309 C
Teal: 7707 C
Gold: 728 C

From: https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Mayor/City-Communications/City-Flag
Masao Okazaki, 24 January 2022


Previous Flag

[Flag of Lincoln, Nebraska] 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.

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

Lincoln’s flag has a medium blue field of 4 by 6 units. In its center appears the state capitol, a tower in white. The tower overlaps an incomplete red ring, 2.5 units in diameter, so that the ring appears to run behind it very near its top, and then continues in a circle on both sides until about 5 and 7 o’clock, where it is obscured by a yellow ear of corn with green leaves on either side and congruent to the circle. Between the ears of corn in the center at the base of the tower is a sheaf of yellow wheat. The distance from the top of the tower to the base of the wheat sheaf is 3.8 units. A second red ring, one unit in diameter, is within the larger ring, and placed behind the tower so that its top edge is about half way up the tower, and thus only a portion of the ring is visible. Extending from this ring to the larger ring are four red rays, one each at about 2, 4, 8 and 10 o’clock. In white block letters on the larger ring, following its curve clockwise, are CITY OF on the hoist side and LINCOLN on the fly side.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Symbolism

The white tower represents Lincoln’s role as the capital of Nebraska. The red circles come from the insignia of the University of Nebraska, and represent education and culture; the corn and wheat symbolize Lincoln as an agricultural center.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Selection

A flag design competition was sponsored by the chamber of commerce, restricted to residents of the city. The prize was $50. Five judges chose the final design from among more than 50 entries.
Flag adopted: 14 September 1931 (official).
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

Designer

Winner of the competition on 2 September 1931, Mrs. J. E. Fiselman.
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

More about the Flag

The contest for a flag design was inspired by a gift from members of the Rotary Club of Lincoln, England, who presented a flag of their city to Lincoln, Nebraska, during a visit in May 1928. Various groups in the city discussed the need to have a similar emblem, which resulted in the chamber of commerce competition. Frank D. Tomson, chairman of the chamber’s flag committee, presented the flag to Acting Mayor Blair in a ceremony at city hall on 29 October 1932. In his remarks, Tomson said that a new Lincoln flag had also been presented to the city of Lincoln, England. In a further burst of grandiloquent rhetoric, Tomson exhorted, “It should find a place in every home within this city and be displayed as a hospitable welcome whenever visitors in numbers from other parts enter our gates.”
John M. Purcell, American City Flags, Raven 9-10, 2002-2003

The City of Lincoln (236,146 inhabitants; 82.75 sq. miles) is located in Lancaster County, in south-eastern Nebraska. On 29 July 1867, the three commissioners appointed by the Legislature decided that the capital of the new state of Nebraska, called Lincoln, would be located on the site of Lancaster, a tiny settlement of 30 inhabitants, near Salt Basin in Lancaster County. This choice was the result of pressure to move the capital from Omaha, which was the capital of the Territory. Lincoln was incorporated on April 7, 1869 as a village. On March 18, 1871 it was reorganized into a Second Class City with its own charter as provided by the state legislature for cities between 1,500 and 15,000 population.

Source: www.lincoln.ne.gov/both/glance1.htm
Ivan Sache, 3 March 2007


Seal

[Municipal seal] image located by Paul Bassinson, 3 October 2019

Source: https://lincoln.ne.gov
Paul Bassinson, 3 October 2019


Redesign of flag (2021)

Information on a flag redesign effort, along with four finalist designs: https://twitter.com/ReFlagLNK/status/1441478320021901313

ReFlag Lincoln on Twitter
“The four finalists are HERE. Check out the thread. We'll be releasing a link next week you can use to officially submit your thoughts. After the public comment period, we'll reveal the winner later this fall.”

http://www.dailynebraskan.com/opinion/opinion-lincoln-s-flag-acceptance-key-to-making-design-competition-work/article_989b61bc-2194-11ec-8a2a-a36fd27122ea.html
Dave Fowler, 4 October 2021


Lincoln Police Department

[Police Department] image located by Paul Bassinson, 13 March 2021

The flag of the Lincoln Police Department appears to consist solely of the department’s logo on a solid light blue background. Image obtained from https://www.facebook.com/lincolnpolicedepartment/photos/10157148775711853
Paul Bassinson, 13 March 2021