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Portland, Oregon City Flag

City of Portland flag

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Description: The City Seal distinguishes the official flag of the City of Portland, Oregon and appears in the upper left corner. The background is green for Oregon's forests, two blue stripes represent the Columbia and Willamette rivers, and a small white star points to Portland's location at their confluence. Gold stripes symbolize the harvest of golden grain and the gold of commerce. Size, proportions and color elements in the City Flag are specified in the Portland City Code 1.06.010 (http://www.bpcnet.com/codes/portland.htm).

History: In 1969, the Portland Art Commission established a special committee to select a design for an official city flag. Local artists submitted designs and the committee selected the design by Douglas Lynch. An Ordinance establishing the City Flag was passed by the Portland City Council January 8, 1970.

Symbolism: The City Code gives detailed specifications for the colors and proportions of the flag, but does not provide the meaning behind the colors and shapes. The symbolism of the flag was explained in 1975 by Ginna Deinum, an assistant to then Mayor Goldschmidt.

The flag's green field, or background, represents Oregon's forests. The two blue stripes which run through the flag at right angles represent the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, and the small four-pointed white star left of center represents the confluence of these Rivers and the location of the City of Portland. The gold stripes represent both the golden grain of our harvests and the gold derived from commerce in the Willamette Valley.

The white stripes are a heraldic custom stemming from medieval times when tradition decreed that colors should not touch each other. The white stripes used in the Portland flag separate the various colors, so that they will not visually blend into each other.

The seal in the upper left-hand corner is a vital part of the heraldic shield and is called a canton. It occupies the same position as does the field stars in our national flag. This is a place of honor, and the canton is in effect a small flag on a larger flag. The seal is the City of Portland's official seal. Much of the symbolism of the flag has been adopted from the seal, with the exception of a specific symbol on the flag to represent the importance of our status as a port city.

Portland Rose: Portland is known as the City of Roses and the original design for the flag called for a picture of a rose on the back of the flag in the same position as that of the seal on the front. A photograph in the City Archives file shows a brilliant, full-blown, red rose on a white circle. However, the due to costs of production this part of the design was eliminated when the design was officially adopted, and none of the flags currently on display include a rose.

Locations: The City Flag is hung on flag poles in front of the Portland Building (5th Avenue), City Hall (4th Avenue), in the City Council Chamber and the Portland Building, 2nd Floor Auditorium. A simplified version of the flag may be used when displayed outdoors from a pole or staff, but the official flag must be displayed inside a building or used for parade purposes. See Portland City Code 1.06.020 (http://www.bpcnet.com/codes/portland.htm ).

Liisa Fagerlund
Former City Recorder
May 9, 2001

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DisclaimerContact UsPortlandOnline last updated this page April 3, 2002 .