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Conch Republic (U.S.)

image by Rick Wyatt, 6 September 1998
Capitol Flag

Background
"Official" Flag

See also:

Florida
United States of America
External sites:
Conch Republic Website

Background

The Conch (pronounced "conk") Republic was a short-lived micronation in the Florida Keys. Here's some information from their Web page:

'In July of 1982, the U.S. Border Patrol set up a military-style roadblock on the Overseas Highway in Key West, Florida, where all northbound traffic was stopped and searched for illegal aliens and drugs. The ensuing well-publicized traffic jam effectively stymied Key West's tourism industry. Mayor Dennis Wardlow, along with five local businessmen, hatched a scheme to save the Key West economy. The "Conch Republic" was created, declaring its independence and war on the United States, and then immediately surrendering and applying for foreign aid. The roadblock was discontinued, and the economy was saved. Today, the tradition of the Conch Republic revolution continues with a yearly celebration, and appointment of various Conch Ambassadors.'

There is no particular information on the flag, other than the fact that it was designed by Brooks White in 1982.
Steve Kramer, 9 April 1998

I have the flag of the Conch Republic on my desk, along with my other flags.

It says "seceded", as opposed to "succeeded", for it is an obvious pun based upon their "secession" from the United States in the early 1980s. The Conch Republic website, as well as some businesses in Key West, use puns very frequently as a method of humorous communication. They are known to "conch"quer other islands and offer free "shell"f-help sessions, as I recall.
Sean McKinniss, 15 October 2001

Official Flag

image used by permission of the office of the secretary 7 September 1998

I just spoke with the Honorable Peter Anderson, Office of the Secretary General, who informed me that the official flag is the one with the motto "we seceded where others failed" below it. The other flag is the flag of Key West, Florida with the name Conch Republic added (but is listed on their website as the "Capitol" flag).
Rick Wyatt, 7 September 1998

image located by Indy, 14 October 2023

According to an image posted by Flashback Miami (dated December 20th, 1982), a flag of unknown status for the Conch Republic is shown as part of a bumper sticker. The colors are unknown, but it depicts a circular disk with images of a conch shell, a pirates head, a fish, and another fourth object which is unidentifiable, above unintelligible text. On top of the disc was a banner that read ''CONCH REPUBLIC'', and below the disc was text that read "PROGRESS · IS · OUR · LEAST · IMPORTANT · PRODUCT". The pole the flag is mounted on boasts a conch finial, which was used on bumper stickers depicting the current flag throughout the 1980s.
https://flashbackmiami.com/2016/02/10/key-west
Indy, 14 October 2023

I believe there were several original Conch Republic flags (1828) some with "Key West" and/or "West Florida" on the bottom left and right. Then a few commemorative variants with the year "1982" replacing the original date (150th Year Anniversary?) and having the text "WE SECEDED WHERE OTHERS FAILED" were commercially manufactured. I have a folder with at least six variants, but none with the wording Peter discovered.
Pete Loeser, 16 October 2023