For Arizonians: I was reading yesterday that the 13 stripes on the state flag represent the original 13 colonies. But I remember being taught, that the 13 stripes represnt the 13 counties of Arizona. I'm not doubting that the website I got this information from is wrong, but I was just wondering if anyone else had ever heard the 13 counties theory before?

pollygw

From http://www.netstate.com/states/symb/flags/az_flag.htm The top half of the flag represents the 13 original colonies of the United States and the western setting sun. The copper star in the center of the flag identifies Arizona as the largest copper producing state in the union. The lower half of the flag is a field of blue, the same Liberty Blue found in the United States' Flag. The red found in the rays of the setting sun is also the same shade of red found in the United States' Flag. The Blue of the lower half of the flag and the yellow of the western setting sun are the Arizona State Colors. The red and yellow colors found in the rays are the colors flown by the Spanish Conquistedors led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in his unsuccessful search for the Seven Cities of Cibola in 1540. Mar 10 07, 4:18 PM

toughynutter

It appears from this source, the Arizona Department of Safety, that it could have been a common misconception. "Harris wanted to associate Arizona with the federal union. He divided the upper half of the flag into 13 segments, the same number of stripes in the U.S. flag. Coincidentally, there were only 13 counties in the state at that time. The stripes represent the rays of a desert sunset, emblematic of a western state." http://www.dps.state.az.us/about/badge/default.asp Mar 10 07, 4:43 PM