The NJ state flag shows New Jersey’s coat of arms, the central design of the state seal, on a buff background. Buff, a yellowish tan, and Jersey blue are the official state colors, chosen by George Washington in 1779 for New Jersey’s Revolutionary War regiments. The flag was adopted in 1896, and its design features Liberty and Ceres beside a blue shield with three plows, topped by a helmet and a horse’s head, above the motto “Liberty and Prosperity” and the year 1776.
Key Takeaways
- Adopted: 1896, more than a century after statehood.
- Background: buff, a yellowish tan that is often shown incorrectly as yellow.
- Official colors: buff and Jersey blue, set in state law in 1965.
- Origin of the colors: uniforms and flags George Washington chose for New Jersey’s Continental Army regiments in 1779.
- Design: the state coat of arms, first created for the state seal by Pierre Eugene du Simitiere in 1777.
- Motto: “Liberty and Prosperity,” with 1776, the year New Jersey became a state.
- Half-staff: the governor orders flags lowered by executive order, and state law sets four annual lowering days.
Facts checked against NJ.gov, the NJ Department of State flag status page, New Jersey statutes and Encyclopaedia Britannica in September 2026.
NJ State Flag Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1896 |
| Background color | Buff |
| Central design | State coat of arms from the state seal |
| Seal designer | Pierre Eugene du Simitiere, 1777 |
| Motto | “Liberty and Prosperity” |
| Date on the flag | 1776 |
| Official colors law | Buff and Jersey blue, P.L. 1965, chapter 170 |
| Display rule clarified | 1938 law made clear display was not limited to the governor |
What Does the NJ State Flag Look Like?
The NJ state flag is a single-color field of buff with the state coat of arms in the center. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, it is the only one of the 50 state flags with a buff background. However, flag makers and websites frequently show it as bright yellow, which is not the official shade.
The coat of arms has three layers. At the top is a helmet with a horse’s head as the crest. In the middle is a blue shield with three plows, held up by two female figures. At the bottom is a banner with the state motto and the year 1776.
Symbols on the NJ State Flag and What They Mean
The coat of arms on the flag comes from the state seal, which Pierre Eugene du Simitiere created in 1777. NJ.gov describes five main symbols, each representing part of New Jersey’s identity.
| Symbol | What it shows | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet and horse’s head | A helmet at the top with a horse’s head above it | New Jersey’s independence and its status as one of the first states |
| Liberty | A woman holding a staff topped with a liberty cap | Freedom |
| Ceres | The Roman goddess of grain holding a cornucopia | The many fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey |
| Shield with three plows | A blue shield with three plows | The state’s agricultural tradition |
| Scroll | A banner with “Liberty and Prosperity” and 1776 | The state motto and the year New Jersey became a state |
Britannica adds that the horse’s head in the crest was taken from early New Jersey coins. In addition, the forward-facing helmet is a traditional heraldic sign of sovereignty. Together, the symbols tell a simple story: a free, independent state built on farming and prosperity.
Seal vs. Flag
The state seal and the NJ state flag share the same central artwork, but they are not identical. The seal is a round emblem used to certify official state documents, while the flag places the coat of arms on a buff field for display. In 1928, a joint resolution of the Legislature formally described the arms, including the three plows on a blue shield and the supporters Liberty and Ceres.
History of the NJ State Flag
The story of the NJ state flag begins in the Revolutionary War. In 1779, George Washington ordered that New Jersey’s Continental regiments wear dark blue coats with buff facings. Soon after, the regiments received flags with buff backgrounds to match their uniform facings.
Britannica notes that buff was also assigned to New York’s troops, possibly as a nod to the former Dutch colony of New Netherland, although that link has never been proven. More than a century later, in 1896, New Jersey adopted a state flag that revived the Revolutionary colors, with the state arms on a buff field.
NJ State Flag Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1776 | New Jersey becomes a state; the year later appears on the seal and flag |
| 1777 | Pierre Eugene du Simitiere creates the state seal |
| 1779 | Washington assigns buff facings to New Jersey’s regiments |
| 1896 | New Jersey adopts the state flag |
| 1928 | A joint resolution formally describes the state coat of arms |
| 1938 | A law clarifies that the right to display the flag is not limited to the governor |
| 1965 | State law names buff and Jersey blue as official colors with exact color standards |
Official Colors: Buff and Jersey Blue
New Jersey law, N.J.S.A. 52:2A-1, states that the official colors “for use on the State Flag and for other purposes shall be buff and Jersey blue.” The 1965 statute ties each color to a specific standard from The Color Association of the United States.
| Color | Official standard | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| Jersey blue | Cable No. 70087, royal blue | The shield on the coat of arms |
| Buff | Cable No. 65015, U.S. Army buff | The flag’s background |
Because buff is a muted tan, printed or sewn versions of the NJ state flag vary. If you are buying one for a school, office or government building, look for a maker that describes the field as buff rather than gold or yellow.
NJ State Flag Etiquette
The federal Flag Code sets the main rules for flying a state flag with the U.S. flag. These are guidelines for civilians rather than enforced laws, but government buildings and many organizations follow them.
- Same pole: when the NJ state flag shares a halyard with the U.S. flag, the U.S. flag goes at the peak.
- Separate poles: no flag should be placed above the U.S. flag or, at the same level, to its right.
- Order of raising: on adjacent staffs, the U.S. flag is raised first and lowered last.
- Size: state flags flown together should be about equal in size.
- Half-staff: raise the flag to the peak for an instant, then lower it to half-staff.
- Worn flags: retire them in a dignified way, following the custom for the U.S. flag.
When Is the NJ State Flag Flown at Half-Staff?
The governor of New Jersey directs when U.S. and state flags are lowered, usually through an executive order. In 2026, for example, Governor Mikie Sherrill ordered flags to half-staff to honor fallen firefighters, a State Police trooper, former U.S. Representative Frank Guarini and the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
In addition, state law sets four recurring days when flags are lowered, according to the NJ Department of State.
| Day | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Officers Memorial Day | May 15 | Statewide |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May | Half-staff until noon |
| Corrections Officer Day | July 30 | At the state’s correctional facilities |
| Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day | December 7 | Statewide |
Since December 2015, state law has required the Secretary of State to run an electronic notification system that alerts the public when flags should fly at half-staff. You can check the current flag status or subscribe to alerts on the NJ Department of State website.
Common Questions and Mix-Ups
- Is the flag yellow? No. The official color is buff, a yellowish tan.
- Is it the same as the seal? Not exactly. The flag uses the coat of arms from the seal without the round seal border.
- Why 1776? It marks the year New Jersey became a state, not the year the flag was adopted.
- Who is on the flag? Two female figures: Liberty, holding a staff with a liberty cap, and Ceres, the goddess of grain.
More NJ Guides
Learn about the state bird, flower, tree and more in our guide to NJ state symbols. For more trivia, read our list of fun facts about NJ, and learn about Trenton and the State House in our guide to the capital of NJ. Find more in our Living in NJ section or on the homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions About the NJ State Flag
What does the NJ state flag look like?
It shows the New Jersey coat of arms, with Liberty, Ceres, a blue shield with three plows, a helmet and a horse’s head, on a buff background.
When was the New Jersey state flag adopted?
The New Jersey state flag was adopted in 1896.
Why is the NJ flag buff colored?
Buff and Jersey blue were the colors George Washington chose in 1779 for the uniforms and flags of New Jersey’s Continental Army regiments.
Is the New Jersey flag yellow?
No. The official background color is buff, a yellowish tan, although the flag is often shown incorrectly as yellow.
What do the three plows on the NJ flag mean?
According to NJ.gov, the three plows on the shield symbolize New Jersey’s agricultural tradition.
Who are the two women on the New Jersey flag?
They are Liberty, who represents freedom, and Ceres, the Roman goddess of grain, who holds a cornucopia.
What does 1776 on the NJ flag mean?
The year 1776 marks when New Jersey became a state. It appears on the scroll with the motto Liberty and Prosperity.
Who decides when NJ flags fly at half-staff?
The governor directs half-staff lowerings by executive order, and state law also sets four annual days, including Memorial Day and Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.
The NJ State Flag in Summary
The NJ state flag, adopted in 1896, places the state coat of arms on a buff field. Its colors, buff and Jersey blue, trace back to Washington’s 1779 order for New Jersey’s troops, and its symbols of Liberty, Ceres, three plows and a horse’s head reflect freedom, farming and early statehood. When flying it, follow the Flag Code, and check the NJ Department of State for half-staff notices.
