Last modified: 2006-08-05 by rick wyatt
Keywords: california |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
Municipalities listed below have been researched for municipal flags, mainly by searching their websites. Commonly U.S. cities use the city seal on a plain field as the city flag, so we have included information about the city seal where no
other flag is known.
See also:
A clear image of this seal can be found at
http://www.pacificgrove.com . The seal
consists of a circular format with an outer ring and central image both in dark
olive green, the central image having a background color of white. The outer
circle contains the words 'CITY OF PACIFIC GROVE CALIFORNIA' in white block
lettering. There are two white hyphens at the 5 and 7 o'clock positions
respectively. At the bottom of the outer ring are the word and date 'INC. 1889'
similarly written. The central image shows a tree of unknown variety and a
forester silhouetted against a white sky. As Pacific Grove is known as 'The
Butterfly City' this web site is speckled with moving images of Monarch
butterflies, one of which obscures the actual seal.
Ron Lahav, 20 March 2005
The image is very small on the first page, and the butterfly is strategically
placed to obscure key details on the second page, but to me the "forester" looks
more like two other trees in the background. And if their name includes "Grove"
shouldn't we expect more than one tree on their emblems? The name of the
image at the www.pacificgrove.com/
page is "City Flag & Butterfly". Does this hint the city flag is a white seal on
a bedsheet?
Ned Smith, 21 March 2005
The website at
http://www.ci.pacifica.ca.us/CITYHALL/welcome.html shows the seal in the
standard circular format and consists of two concentric circles bordered both
externally and internally in black. The outer ring contains the words 'CITY OF
PACIFICA' in large black block lettering at the top, with the word
'INCORPORATED' similarly written at the bottom followed by a small B&W outline
of a circle separating it from the date 'NOV. 22, 1957'. The central image
consists of a full frontal portrait mask of a classical figure in blue shadowed
gray. An alternative version of this seal can be found at
http://www.kell-smith.com/page3.htm ; in this version the seal in its
entirety consists of a green line drawing.
Ron Lahav, 20 March 2005
Pacifica does not have a municipal flag. Outside city hall are the US and the
California State flags only. Pacifica does have an official city seal, designed
by Ralph Stackpole for the 1939-40 exposition. However documents also record
"the official city seal was selected in 1960, on the basis of an artist's
competition. The winner was Mr. Ralph Barkey, of Pacifica. The head is a
caricature of the statue of Pacifica. The motto, underneath, reads, 'Progress in
Wisdom'"
Nicole Cuadra, Public Services Librarian, Pacifica, 19 July 2005
The website at
http://www.cityofpalmdale.org shows the municipal logo is roughly circular
in shape, with ragged indentations along its circumference. It is in the shape
of a 'Dust Devil', typical of the surrounding desert landscape, and is in
various shades of blue and gray with four irregularly spaced rows of white dots
at the top, perhaps symbolizing the plumage of the road runner bird.
Ron Lahav, 20 March 2005
On http://www.palm-desert.org the
municipal logo consists of the letters 'PD' written in a highly stylized form of
block lettering colored ocher on a tan background. In the center and separating
the letters is an equally stylized palm frond extending beyond the letters to
the left. Within the letters the frond is tan, while externally it is ocher.
Ron Lahav, 29 March 2005
In addition to the logo for this town, I have also found a proper city seal
at http://www.cityofpalmdesert.org.
A much larger version is also available at
http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2004/06-08/bw_seal04djpg_300.jpg. The city
seal has an upper portion a broad semicircle in gold and black, representing the
stylized crown of a palm tree. There is a vertical golden line nearly bisecting
the central image which represents the tree trunk. The image itself seems to
consist of a structure of some kind in terra cotta, with a blue sky above and
the crown of a palm tree in green at the roof line. At the very bottom of this
image, in the form of two semicircular rows, are the words 'CITY OF PALM DESERT'
in miniscule white block lettering, while beneath this is a date similarly
written.
Ron Lahav, 31 March 2005
The larger image shows the lower part of the seal contains a mountain next to
a golf course, a tennis court, and a desert ...or maybe it is just a huge sand
trap on the golf course.
Ned Smith, 1 April 2005
As a follow up- it seems that Palm Desert does have a city flag which
incorporates the seal (but perhaps not for long). A Dec. 31, 2004 news story at
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_flag01.a19b9.html
[registration required] discusses NAVA's flag survey and guidelines and states
"Palm Desert Mayor Buford Crites wasn't happy when told of the group's criteria
for a good flag. Why? Because Palm Desert's flag, 'I'm embarrassed to say now,
has the city seal on it,' he said." "Crites said he likes the idea of creating a
new flag that reflects his city's uniqueness."
No further word about the flag's design, or plans to change it.
Ned Smith, 2 April 2005
Home page is
http://ci.palm-springs.ca.us ,
but a larger image of the municipal seal can be found on the web site of a local
property company, Blesch and Associates (
http://wwwbleschandassociates.com/images/images/palm-springs.jpg ). The seal
itself is in the standard circular format with a beaded external border
fimbriated blue. The outer ring is separated from the central image by a thin
blue internal border, and is gold in color intermingled with white so as to
create the effect of a sparkling coin. At the top of the outer ring are the
words 'CITY OF PALM SPRINGS' in blue block sans serif lettering, with the word
'CALIFORNIA' similarly written at the bottom. At the 4 and 5 o'clock positions,
and also at the 7 and 8 o'clock ones, are four small blue five pointed stars,
two to a side. The central image depicts a desert scene in blue and gold, with
three palm trees halved in these colors standing in the foreground, a larger
tree in the center flanked by two smaller ones. Behind the trees is a mountain
range in yellow outlined blue, with a stylized blue rayed rising sun in a yellow
sky. At the foot of this central image is a white ribbon outlined blue and
folded into three parts, with a broad central portion on which is written the
word 'INCORPORATED' and an illegible date in miniscule blue block lettering.
Ron Lahav, 29 March 2005
The City of Palm Springs' original seal was adopted by the City Council in
1952. In 1978, the City held a contest to update the City Seal. The current seal
was designed by Naning San Pedro; who at that time, was an employee of the City
of Palm Desert, California in their reprographics division. In 1978 the City
Council adopted the current City Seal. It is codified in the City Charter, along
with the City's Municipal Code.
James Thompson, City Clerk, 6 April 2005
At http://www.palosverdes.com/pve
is an extremely striking seal. On a borderless black background the words 'CITY
OF PALOS VERDES ESTATES' are written in large gold block lettering in a
semicircle across the top of the seal, with the word 'CALIFORNIA' similarly
written at the bottom. The central image consists of a large public monument in
gold. To the left of this monument is a photograph of a seascape, with birds
flying overhead and a plant with large pink blossoms on the shore. To the right
of the monument is another photograph, this one of a bright yellow sun rising
over a 'wine-dark' sea into a midnight blue sky, its light being reflected in
the waters. Directly beneath the monument, in gold upper and lower case gold
lettering, is the word and date 'Incorporated 1939'.
Ron Lahav, 29 March 2005
At http://www.townofparadise.com
the circular seal consists of a thick outer ring in black containing the words
'TOWN OF PARADISE CALIFORNIA' written in white block lettering around the top.
At the bottom of the outer ring, in the 5 and 7 o'clock positions respectively,
are two small red balls, while at the bottom of the outer ring is the word
'INCORPORATED' and a date in miniscule illegible white block lettering. The
central image consists of a white disc, on which is placed a redwood tree
proper. Behind the tree is a gray triangular shaped mountain with a blue
pinnacle; the top of the tree and the pinnacle both being circled by a gray halo
(perhaps a canting reference to the name of the town!). Beneath this image, at
the very bottom of the white disc, there appears to be a town motto, but both
the script and the wording are too small for me to distinguish any details.
Ron Lahav, 29 March 2005
The Town seal was adopted by Town Ordinance in May, 1983, which then became a
part of our Municipal Code. It was designed by a graphic artist in Town after
many submissions for consideration by citizens within the Town. That person has
long since retired and moved to Arizona. I am going to quote the description of
our Town Seal from the Municipal Code as I did not come to work as the City
Clerk until 1984.
"A circle of not less than one and three fourth inches in diameter with the
following inscription thereon near the edge of the stamping and embossing part
thereof: "TOWN OF PARADISE, CALIFORNIA" in the upper edge and "INCORPORATED
NOVEMBER 27, 1979" between two acorns at the bottom; within which and occupying
the center circle is a pyramid encompassed by a halo, the left side of which
depicts trees, the right snowcapped and forested mountains, below which waiving
lines represent water under which is written "In Harmony with Nature".
We do not have a Town flag. Also, at incorporation the citizens decided that
we would be called a Town and not a City even though there is not legal
difference. Our population is currently approximately 27,000.
Frankie Rutledge, Town Clerk, 6 April 2005
The home page of the
municipal web site is in a partly cartoon style. The municipal logo consists
of a horizontal ellipse bordered blue and fimbriated white with a pale green
background. The word 'PARAMOUNT' is written in tall blue block lettering
bordered white and with the letters themselves of varying heights. The bottom of
the ellipse has a semicircular piece removed, beneath which is a pale green
mound on which two palm trees proper, one behind the other, are standing.
Between the ellipse and the mound and flanking it are two very thin pale green
lines, while flanking the mound and separated by it are the words 'The City',
one on each side, in a childish blue printed script. I would have thought that
perhaps some sort of arrangement could have been made with Paramount Studios to
incorporate their logo of the mountain circled with stars.
Ron Lahav, 29 March 2005
The municipal logo is in black, white, and gray. It depicts a stylized image
of a road passing over plowed fields and moving toward the middle distance, into
a stylized sunrise. The words 'CITY OF PARLIER' are written in tall thin block
lettering using an Old West font.
Ron Lahav, 29 March 2005
The website at
http://www.ci.pasadena.ca,us/images/cityseal.jpg shows the seal consists of
two concentric rings, both having a background color of white and both bordered
by silver beads. The outer ring contains the words 'CITY OF PASADENA' in dark
blue sans serif block lettering at the top, with two similarly colored five
pointed stars at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions respectively. The bottom of the
outer ring contains the words 'INCORPORATED JUNE 1886' similarly written. The
central image consists of a crown in silver and purple, bisected bendwise dexter
by a silver key. I believe that this image is part of the regalia of the Rose
Queen, chosen annually as part of the Tournament of Roses festival which
culminates in the Rose Bowl American football game held every New Year's Day
between the champions of the Big Ten and Pacific-8 Conferences in American
college (i e university) football.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2005
The website at www.prcity.com shows no municipal heraldry.
Ron Lahav, 25 September 2004
The website at
http://www.ci.patterson.ca.us shows an extremely colorful municipal seal in
a flattened ovoid format. Both the external and internal borders of this seal
are gold, and the outer ovoid is in royal blue with gold block lettering. At the
top are the words 'CITY OF PATTERSON,' with 'INCORPORATED 1919' similarly
written at the bottom. The central image depicts an agricultural landscape: at
both the right and left flanks is desert land, shown in cream, while in the
center foreground are five dark green rows of dark green running into the middle
distance and representing irrigated land. These strips are separated one from
another by four strips of desert land. At the immediate right and left
foregrounds respectively are two palm trees with gold trunks and dark green
crowns. In the middle of the central image and arranged more or less fesswise is
a range of four hills in gray green outlined in gold, while above them is a pale
blue sky containing a rising golden sun in its lower left hand portion.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2005
The website at
http://www.cityofperris.org shows the municipal seal in the standard
circular format, but strikingly colored in black and gold, the background color
of the outer ring being black, while both the internal and external borders are
in gold. This outer ring also contains the words 'CITY' and 'PERRIS' in gold in
a Victorian era font, with the connecting preposition 'of' written in lower case
italic lettering using a similar font. At the 4 and 8 o'clock positions
respectively are two golden sprigs, while the bottom ring contains the words
'INC.1911' also in gold block lettering. The central image appears to be a color
photograph of a California Mission building in terra cotta with a red tiled
roof. Stretching from the foreground to the structure is a roadway in gray
running through a green lawn, with two pyramidal trees in green flanking the
entrance and a taller tree to the right of the structure. These features are
surmounted by a blue sky dotted with cumulus clouds.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2005
The website at
http://www.cityofpetaluma.net shows no municipal heraldry.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2005
Two web images at
http://john-donne.easytree.org/VanMorrisonCoversBootlegsPart2/1992/1992_12_15_Petaluma_back.jpg
and
http://wika.webtechplanet.com/police_usa/california/ca_petaluma.gif (police
badge) show a seal with a seated female, and various objects of local trade
distributed around here, with the date 1858 above.
Jan Mertens, 10 April 2005
The website at
http://www.ci.piedmont.ca.us shows no municipal heraldry.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2005
The website at
http://www.ci.pinole.ca.us has the city seal depicted in the form of a grey
stamp superimposed upon various scenes of local life, but I am unable to make
out any details of it.
Ron Lahav, 10 April 2005
The website at
http://www.pismobeach.org/SITE/index/index.html shows for the City of Pismo
Beach seal. The minutes of the 6 July 2004 City Council Meeting mention a
council member asking to see the design of the city flag and logos, but no
further details are mentioned. See
http://www.pismobeach.org/SITE/pdf/council/minutes/070604.pdf.
Ned Smith, 22 April 2005
Based on
http://www.pismobeach.org/SITE/index/index.html the seal is very simple in
composition and design, but the clever use of color makes it quite attractive.
It follows the usual circular format, with a wide outer ring being bordered
externally and internally in blue and having a white background color. At the
top of the seal are the words 'CITY OF' in blue block lettering, with 'PISMO
BEACH' at the bottom. The central image consists of a rising sun in gold, with
eight gold and seven white rays. To the right of the sun is a sheer cliff in
bright blue, while the bottom depicts a stylized seashore with alternating dark
blue and white waves.
Ron Lahav, 23 April 2005
The City of Placentia website see
http://placentia.org/ has links to an illustration of its seal at
http://placentia.org/500FormsRequests/500index.html or
http://placentia.org/images/hd_forms_req.jpg.
Ned Smith, 22 April 2005
The municipal seal is in the standard circular format, with both external and
internal bordering in orange. The background color of the outer ring is green,
with the words 'CITY OF' in orange block lettering at the top and 'PLACENTIA' at
the bottom of this circle. At the 3 and 9 o'clock positions respectively are two
oranges fruited and leaved proper. The central image depicts an orange grove
with the tree crowns visible in green on a plowed field in green. To the right
of the grove is a dirt road in light brown, with some farm buildings in gray
flanking it. To the left of the grove is a railroad train (from its red and gold
coloring I would guess that it belongs to the old Santa Fe Railway) proceeding
from the middle distance toward the left foreground. In the middle distance
fesswise there is also a range of three mountains in purplish grey, with a
golden rayed sun rising into a pale blue sky. At the bottom of the central
image, written in miniscule black lettering in an arc format, is the word and
date 'INCORPORATED 1924.'
Ron Lahav, 24 April 2005
Although Placer County has its own flag, apparently its county seat does not.
The municipal seal is very colorful
and interesting, and is redolent of the city's past as a center of the
California Gold Rush of 1849. The format is circular, with the outer ring in
deep blue. At the top of this outer ring are the words 'CITY OF PLACERVILLE' in
gold block lettering written in a Ballyhoo font, while at the bottom is the date
'1854' in miniscule silver numbers. Beneath the date are the words 'OLD HANGTOWN'
in silver block lettering in an Old West font, reflecting the town's history
where justice was both quick and rough. The central image depicts a typical
'49er' panning for gold in the Placer River. The river itself is a similar color
to the outer ring, the riverbank is green, the sky is blue, and a fluffy white
cloud frames the miner. To his left a lone tree proper rises vertically, and
projecting from it is a branch with what appears to be a lantern suspended
halfway along its length and a bird's nest at the very end. The 49er himself is
wearing a crumpled brown hat, a red flannel shirt, blue jeans (Levis of course -
he would have been one of the original customers!), and black boots. There is no
indication however if the miner, 49er, lived in a cavern up a canyon, or if he
had a daughter Clementine - dreadful sorry 'bout that!
Ron Lahav, 20 April 2005
The website at
http://www.ci.porterville.ca.us shows this city has both a seal and a logo,
the latter being far more complex and interesting than the former. The seal is
in the standard circular format, with a black outer ring containing the words
'CITY OF PORTERVILLE' in yellow block lettering at the top, two similarly
colored yellow hyphens at the 4 and 8 o'clock positions, and the word
'CALIFORNIA', likewise written in yellow block lettering at the bottom. The
background color of the central image is white, and features two orange branches
leaved and fruited proper, with their stems crossed saltirewise at the top. The
logo is much more complex and interesting; it consists of several ribbons in
grayish pink bordered black coiled tightly. In the center of these ribbons is a
circle bordered black depicting at the bottom multicolored fruits and flowers on
a green background and a blue sky at the top. A red horizontal bar runs
transversely across the entire circumference of the circle, beginning some
distance outside it to the left and continuing the same distance beyond it to
the right. Above this bar are the words 'CITY OF' in small black block
lettering, while the word 'PORTERVILLE' is written in large white block
lettering across the bar; beneath the bar is the word 'CALIFORNIA' written in
similar small block letters. At the very bottom of the logo, beneath the circle,
is a ribbon similar to those described earlier with the municipal slogan 'The
Good Life' written in black upper and lower case lettering.
Ron Lahav, 5 May 2005
"The Porterville Recorder", 14 January 2006, reports that the City of
Porterville is sponsoring a “City Flag Design Contest”. The public is encouraged
to participate in submitting their entries for consideration of their design as
the official flag for the city. The design will be used in the creation of a
regular 3 x 5- foot flag which will be used at various city-related functions.
The flag design should be in full color, incorporate “The City of Porterville”
into the flag design, and should be representative of the community as a whole.
Participants are encouraged to avoid the use of specific school colors, mascots,
etc. All entries must be received by 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. The entries will be
reviewed by a City Flag Contest Committee and narrowed to the top five designs
which will be presented to the City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 7 for the final
selection of the winning design.
http://www.portervillerecorder.com/articles/2006/01/14/news/briefs/brief2.txt
Ivan Sache, 18 January 2006
The website at
http://www.ci.port-hueneme.ca.us shows a very colorful circular seal,
bordered both externally and internally in gold and with white as the background
color throughout. The outer ring contains the words 'CITY OF PORT HUENEME' in
blue block lettering at the top. There are two blue five pointed stars
respectively at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, while the words 'VENTURA COUNTY,
CA' are similarly written at the bottom. The central image is dominated by
a large lighthouse outlined in black and perched on a black islet, with what
appear to be black whales swimming in blue water immediately in front of it, all
to the left foreground. Behind the islet is a body of water in blue and white,
signifying perhaps that a chop is running. Immediately to the right are the bows
and foc'sle of an ocean-going vessel, with a black waterline and anchor and a
sepia strake running along its hull. Although the ship has not dropped her
anchor, she does not appear to be under way. Behind the vessel is the view of a
hilly shoreline in sepia, with two seabirds outlined against the sky.
Ron Lahav, 5 May 2005
Continued: California Municipal Symbols R
