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# 43 Star Flag - (1890-1891) (U.S.)

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Last modified: 2026-07-18 by rick wyatt
Keywords: forty-three | united states |
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image by Clay Moss, 9 February 2007

- Description of the flag
- Jack

See also:

- History of the Stars and Stripes
- U.S. Historical flags
- United States of America

## Description of the flag

In 1890, five stars were added, representing Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington, bringing the total number of stars to 43. There were thirteen stripes representing the thirteen original colonies.
Rick Wyatt, 5 April 1998

This flag flew from 4 July, 1890, to 3 July, 1891. This is easily the most peculiar star design of any US flag to date.
Clay Moss, 9 February 2007

39-star flag {unofficial}: (2 Nov. 1889) this flag was to have recognized the new state of "Dakota" (aka known as "the Dakota Territory" or "the Dakotas"), but on 22 Feb 1889 the federal U.S. "Omnibus Bill" or "Enabling Act" divided "Dakota" in half and admitted them as two new states of "North Dakota" (39th state) and "South Dakota" (40th state) on 2 Nov 1889.
40-star flag {unofficial}: (2 Nov. 1889) see 39-star flag above. "South Dakota".
41-star flag {unofficial}: (8 Nov 1889) Montana admitted .
42-star flag {unofficial}: (11 Nov 1889) "Washington" (located on the west coast of the U.S.) was admitted (not "Washington, D.C." – the national capital district on the east coast of the U.S.).
Admitted as states into the U.S. "Union" {all of these 5 state's "stars" were added officially into the U.S. flag's "canton" on 4 July 1890}
North Dakota: 2 Nov 1889 (39th state)
South Dakota: 2 Nov 1889 (40th state)
Montana: 8 Nov 1889 (41st state)
Washington (not "Washington, D.C."): 11 Nov 1889 (42nd state)
Idaho: 3 July 1890 (43rd state)
William Garrison, 5 April 2024

image located by William Garrison, 10 June 2026

Source: https://historical.ha.com/itm/military-and-patriotic/indian-wars

William Garrison, 10 June 2026

## Jack

image by Clay Moss, 9 February 2007