West Virginia State Flag | Eder Endura-Nylon Outdoor Flag

The West Virginia state flag features the state coat of arms on a white field bordered by a dark blue stripe, with a wreath of rhododendron (the state flower) beneath the arms and the state name above. The coat of arms displays a farmer with an axe and plow and a miner with a pickaxe, flanking a large rock inscribed with the date June 20, 1863, the day West Virginia became a state. Two rifles crossed behind the rock support a Phrygian cap of liberty, and the state motto "Montani Semper Liberi" (Mountaineers Are Always Free) appears on a ribbon below. It is one of the more detailed and symbolically rich state flags.

West Virginia's Appalachian terrain creates demanding conditions for outdoor flags. Mountain ridges channel persistent winds through valleys, and elevations range from 240 to over 4,800 feet, each zone with different weather patterns. Winters bring heavy, wet snow and ice storms, while summers deliver humidity, UV exposure, and intense thunderstorms. Fog is common in the hollows, keeping flags damp for extended periods. The 200-denier Endura-Nylon with SolarGuard UV finish is well-matched to these conditions: it resists mildew in persistent moisture, dries quickly between storms, and handles the freeze-thaw cycles that destroy lesser fabrics. Reinforced fly-end stitching manages the ridge-top gusts, and brass grommets resist corrosion in the damp mountain air.

About the West Virginia State Flag

West Virginia's statehood is unique: it is the only state created by seceding from a Confederate state during the Civil War. When Virginia voted to leave the Union in 1861, the western counties refused and formed their own government, ultimately gaining statehood on June 20, 1863. The flag's imagery reflects that origin story: the farmer and miner represent the working people who built the new state, the rifles and liberty cap reference the armed struggle for freedom, and the date on the rock marks the birth of a state forged in wartime. The motto "Mountaineers Are Always Free" captures both the geographic reality and the independent spirit that drove West Virginia's creation. The current flag design was adopted in 1929.

Specifications

• Material: 200-denier Endura-Nylon with SolarGuard UV finish
• Finishing: Reinforced fly-end stitching, canvas heading, brass grommets
• Made in USA by Eder Flag
• Recommended for outdoor residential and commercial display