Did you know that each of the New York City boroughs has its own borough flag? In most cases they’re visually derived from the New York City flag, which also has its own flag as a whole. This flag, pictured above, comes from Prince William of Orange’s flag of the Dutch Republic, when New Amsterdam was first settled on Manhattan Island. While “Orange” is derived from the location of the House of Orange in France, the orange color is an oblique reference nonetheless.
Here is a look at the flags of each borough, their design features, and history.
Flag of New York City (Image via Wikipedia)
Manhattan
Flag of Manhattan County (Image via Wikipedia)
The borough of Manhattan or New York County, fittingly has a flag that almost completely resembles the flag for New York City. In the center you will find the official seal for the borough of Manhattan. The date, 1683, is commemorative of the establishment of the county itself, with today’s borders.
The Bronx
Flag of Bronx County (Image via Wikipedia)
The Bronx flag dons the same colors as the City’s, but its stripes are rotated 90 degrees. In it’s center is the Bronck family coat of arms encircled by a wreath. The family arms consist of: “the face of the sun with rays displayed rising from the sea, signifying peace, liberty, and commerce” and “an eagle facing eastward and with its wings expanded.”
Queens
Flag of Queens County (Image via Wikipedia)
Heading down the East River, the Queens flag has three horizontal stripes, dropping the orange of the New York City flag for a blue-white-blue pattern. A ring of wampum is used to symbolize the Indians. Inside is a tulip, a symbol of the early Dutch settlers, and a white and red rose – the Tudor rose – which symbolizes the English settlers. The flag also has the date when Queens County joined the boroughs, the crown of Queen Anne and the name “Qveens Borovgh” at the top.
Brooklyn
Flag of Kings County (Image via Wikipedia)
Brooklyn is unique in that it was originally its own city before joining the boroughs. The Brooklyn flag is white and often has a thin, yellow border. At its center is a robed woman dressed in white on an oval, blue background. The phrase “Unity makes strength” in Dutch and “Borough of Brooklyn” completed the seal, written around the center emblem to complete the Kings County flag.
Staten Island
Flag of Richmond County (Image via Wikipedia)
Last, but not least, Staten Island, or Richmond County, has another very distinctive flag. The flag is white with a center oval that has a blue sky, and a green mountain with a white city silhouette landscape. At the bottom of the oval, there are several white and blue stripes resembling waves. It also has the words “Staten Island” in the emblem. The flag was chosen in a contest in 1971, but not adopted officially until 2002.
Bonus: Governor’s Island
Flag of Governor’s Island (Image via Wikipedia)
Here’s a quirky fact, Governors Island (technically part of Manhattan) also has its own flag! The location, which was sold to the City by President Bush for $1, has flown many flags in its day–stemming from its original colonization by the Dutch. The flag, shown above, is modeled after the United States flag, with a white silhouette of the island on a blue background and thirteen red and white stripes.
You can find these flags flown above many City parks and municipal buildings. More detailed descriptions of the flags can be found on this article. For more insightful and quirky pieces, check out more from our Daily What?! series. Get in touch with the author @uptownvoice.
