cleveland flag
about flag 21
The 21st Cleveland flag redesign features a blue field and red field divided by a white chevron. Three white, five-point stars are featured on the red field.
Cleveland, Ohio, is located in Northeast Ohio where the Cuyahoga River empties into the southern shore of Lake Erie. The shape of the flag mimics Cleveland’s location on the map. The blue chevron represents Lake Erie to the north; the white, Cleveland’s north shore. The red field represents the land, or “the Land,” as Cleveland is sometimes called.
The white chevron holds special meaning, as well. It is a tribute to the chevron found on Moses Cleaveland’s family coat of arms. See Cleveland flag design 10 for more information about the coat of arms and Cleveland’s history.
The chevron also holds a more contemporary meaning. The shapes echoes the mathematical greater than symbol. This symbol pays tribute to Greater Cleveland and the notion that the city is greater than the sum of its parts. No one thing, event or person is responsible for making Cleveland, Ohio, the city it is today. It is a group effort, achieved on behalf of everyone who strives to make Cleveland a great city.
The three five-point stars represent downtown Cleveland (center) and the city’s east and west sides. They also stand for Cleveland’s past, present and future.
On the new Cleveland flag design, blue represents pride. White represents community. Red represents innovation.
This Cleveland flag design includes several alternate color schemes. The new color schemes change each flag’s meaning.
Alternate color scheme one: grey and blue
Alternate color scheme two: gold and green
Alternate color scheme three: red and blue
The new Cleveland flag design is built on a 1:5 grid. See how this new Cleveland flag design compares to other Ohio city flags.
alternate colors 1
While all of the 21st Cleveland flags have the same design, the flag has several alternate color palettes. The different colors give each flag a new meaning. The first of these is a unique grey, white and blue palette.
In this version, grey represents the city’s history. It is the color of stone and steel. It harkens back to the city’s once-booming steel industry. The wealth steel and manufacturing brought Cleveland, Ohio, in the early 20th century helped fund some of the finest classical architecture and stone work in the country.
The chevron has a double meaning as a greater than mathematical symbol, indicating that Cleveland’s strength is its community. It also is a reference to the region, collectively known as Greater Cleveland. It is also a historical callback to the coat of arms of Cleveland, Ohio, founder Moses Cleaveland. Cleveland flag design 10 elaborates on this detail.
White stands for Cleveland’s future and blue represents pride. The three five-point stars stand for downtown Cleveland and the city’s east and west sides.
alternate colors 2
Cleveland flag redesign 21 offers a few alternate colors. While all of the 21st Cleveland flags have the same design, the different colors give each Cleveland flag a new meaning.
The the second alternate is a vibrant gold and verdant green palette. This is the first Cleveland flag redesign to feature this unique color scheme.
This Cleveland flag design pays tribute to Cleveland’s moto “Progress and Prosperity.” Unlike the city of Cleveland’s current flag, the words do not appear on this flag, as letting and words do not belong on a flag. See the five rules for good flag design.
Here, the color gold represents progress and green represents prosperity. It is important to note that Cleveland’s prosperity is not always measured in financial or economic terms. On the flag, prosperity can mean wealth of community, natural resources and hometown pride. White stands for Cleveland’s future. The three five-point stars stand for downtown Cleveland and the city’s east and west sides.
The chevron recalls the mathematical greater than symbol, a nod to the Greater Cleveland region and a tribute to Cleveland’s community. Cleveland, Ohio, is greater than the sum of its parts. The Cleveland experience is a culmination of its diverse communities, thriving arts and food culture, musical contributions—be them the Cleveland Orchestra or rock and roll, MetroParks and natural resources. Cleveland is bigger than one person, event or idea. It is a collective belief in its proud, hardworking people that makes Cleveland greater.
The chevron is also a reference to the city’s founder Moses Cleaveland’s family coat of arms. The description of Cleveland flag design 10 delves into this part of the city’s history.
alternate colors 3
The third color scheme for the 21st Cleveland flag design is, admittedly, similar to the original. The red and blue are transposed, while the white stars and chevron remain the same.
The first version of this flag design (above) describes Cleveland’s geography, with the blue Lake Erie to the left or, when hung vertically, above the white shoreline and red land.
In this version, the colors are more aesthetic than geographic. The blue field allows for more contrast with the white stars. This is similar to the way the United States of America and Ohio flags present stars. In this version, the three colors appear from left to right in the classic American palette of red, white and blue. This palette is an homage to the current flag of Cleveland, Ohio, which follows the same pattern.
In this version, red represents resilience. White stands for innovation and blue represents Cleveland pride. The five-point stars stand for downtown Cleveland and the east and west sides.
The chevron implies the mathematical greater than symbol. This is a tribute to the Greater Cleveland region and celebrates Cleveland’s diverse communities. The city of Cleveland, Ohio, is greater than the sum of its parts. It is a culmination of strong communities, a dynamic arts and food scene, cultural contributions like the Cleveland Orchestra and rock and roll, natural resources like the MetroParks and innovative healthcare, science and technology. Cleveland is bigger than one person, event or idea.
The chevron also refers to the city’s founder Moses Cleaveland’s family coat of arms. A detailed description of this part of the city’s history is included with Cleveland flag design 10.
Because this color scheme appeared similar to Cleveland flag 16, it was chosen as alternate and not a primary design.
more colors
Cleveland flag redesign number 21 lends itself to many color palettes that evoke the city and its people. Below are several alternate color options for this versatile flag design.
The blue, white and green flag depicts Cleveland’s natural resources: Lake Erie and the Metroparks. Orange represents energy, growth and change while grey represents history and industry. Yellow and blue might represent culture and community.
