California

The flag of California is set on a white background with a grizzly bear walking along grass and facing towards the hoist side of the flag at its centre. Along the bottom of the flag is a narrow red stripe, immediately above which sits the words 'California Republic'. A five pointed red star sits in the upper hoist quadrant of the flag. The flag of California became the official state flag on 3 February 1911. The flag is sometimes referred to as the 'Bear Flag'. The grizzly bear on the flag of California is modeled on the last California grizzly bear in captivity, a grizzly bear named 'Monarch'. The five pointed star is said to represent freedom and is taken from the California Lone Star flag of 1836. The flag's ratio is 2:3.

The flag of California on display at the California State Capitol