The District of Columbia uses three red five-pointed stars above two red horizontal bars on a white field, adapted from the Washington family arms.
Design structure
The design is almost entirely heraldic geometry: three equally spaced stars occupy the upper white field, with two solid red bars below. In heraldry the stars are properly called mullets.
Display color
HEX #E21C2A / screen reconstructionHeraldic origin
The stars and bars come from the coat of arms associated with George Washington’s family. The stripped-back flag translates that shield into a civic symbol without lettering or a seal.
Historical record
The District formally approved the flag on 25 October 1938. It has remained visually stable and is widely used both as a government flag and as an informal symbol of the city.
Source trail
Government of the District of Columbia: DC Symbols ↗
The official account confirms the approval date, device count, colors, and Washington-family origin.