City of Five Flags

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Pensacola is often called the City of Five Flags due to the five national governments who have controlled the area at various times: Spain, France, Britain, the Confederacy and the United States. These five governments in fact used a variety of flags over the years.

Flag Name Usage Notes
CastileLeonFlag.png Flag of Castile and León Luna expedition
1559
Notes
BurgundianSaltire.png Cross of Burgundy flag First Spanish period
1698-1719
Notes
FrenchFlag.png French flag French period
1719-1722
The France Modern banner of Charles V, representing the Trinity[1]
BurgundianSaltire.png Cross of Burgundy flag Second Spanish period
1723-1763
Notes
BritishFlag.png British flag British period
1763-1781
Notes
SpanishNavalEnsign.png Naval ensign of Charles III Third Spanish period
1781-1819
Notes
USFlag-23Stars.png Antebellum U.S. flag (23 stars) United States
1821-1861
The U.S. flag gained ten stars between 1821 to 1861, from 23 to 33. Florida became the 27th star when it received statehood on July 4, 1845
ConfederateStarsAndBars.png Confederate first national pattern
"Stars and Bars" flag
Civil War
1861-1862
The U.S. flag was actually restored when Pensacola was surrendered to Union forces on May 10, 1862. The state surrendered on May 20, 1865.
USFlag-50Stars.png Modern U.S. flag United States
1865-Present
Notes

Confederate flag

For many years, the flag flown over Pensacola to represent Confederate rule was the "battle flag."

On January 25, 2000, Pensacola City Manager Tom Bonfield decided to replace the battle flag with the Stars and Bars flag, which was deemed more appropriate and "historically correct" by local historians. The Pensacola City Council voted 7-2 on February 10 to confirm the use of the Stars and Bars flag instead of the battle flag; on the same day, the Escambia County Commission voted unanimously to keep the battle flag.

References