Six Flags have flown over Kentucky during its formation:

1. The Cross of St. George (Red Cross on a white field-patron Saint of England)

2. The King’s Colors (Cross of St. George overlaid on the Scottish St.Andrew’s Cross-a white X on a blue field) 1606

3. France (The White French flag with gold fleuers de-lis is known as the Bourbon Banner). France claimed Kentucky from about 1643 until 1744, then tried to claim it again in 1749 which was not settled until the end of the French and Indian wars in 1763.

4. Spain (This flag, called the “Spanish Flag of Castile and Leon was used from 1230-1516 when the Spanish claimed the Americas. Specifically, Kentucky was claimed by Hernando de Soto in 1539 until 1763).

5. The United States flags from June 14, 1777 until present, starting with the original 13 stripes and 13 stars to the current flag).

6. The Kentucky Flag, designed and adopted in 1918. During the Civil War there was a short period during which it was in-determinant as to whether it would be North or South but the Union Flag won out and was Kentucky’s unofficial flag until the 1918 flag was adopted.