Some people think the US may have 51 or 52 states some day. Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands or Washington, DC may become states some day. But one person wouldn't like that at all. The person who will have to redesign the flag. A person who does that is called a vexillologist. And for the American flag it is not easy. See, I thought about this when I was a child even. If the US gets more states, why not just stick the stars anywhere in the blue field. No. They have to be even and symmetrical. And it has to be aesthetically pleasing. Or in other words, look right. And it has to be rectangular too (more on that below). When the US flag had 48 stars, 47 years from 1912 to 1959, it was simple. Six times eight is 48. So the blue field (called the union or canton) had rows of six and eight. Which is a rectangle too, of course. Then Alaska was admitted to the union in January 3, 1959, and Hawaii was admitted August 21, 1959. And each time the flag had to be redesigned. It didn't matter that they probably knew Hawaii would be admitted just a year later. Still, for one year there was just that one flag design. Then about a year later they had to start over again, and design the flag again. The current flag is kind of ingenious. Alternating rows of six and five stars, with the longest rows on top and on the bottom. Designing a 51 star flag, and then maybe a 52 star flag shortly after that, won't be easy. I saw one design about 20 years ago. And it looked terrible. It would have to have alternating rows of three stars, with the shortest row on the bottom. But that is all that would work for that number. And, much like designing a magic square, designing a new American flag would take everything from basic arithmetic, to geometry and trigonometry. And basic squares and knowing areas of shapes. And like I said, it has to be rectangular and look pleasing to the eye. In early 1959 when we had 49 states, a square canton with seven rows times seven would work, because seven squared is 49. But that would be square, not a rectangle. And the rectangle in the canton can't be too thin either. It has to be at least a rectangle of 2:3 ratio. A rectangle 1:2 would look too thin and weird. A computer program might help with all of this next time. Or they could just put the stars in a clever shape, like the Great Star flag of 1837 to 1845. We'll see.
Ya no one thinks of how hard it will be FOR THEM!! Interesting.. What state is Washington DC part of now?? (Isnt it on the border of several??)
The District of Columbia is not a part of any state. Columbia is the female representative of the U.S., a god like figure invented by African-American Phillis Wheatley in 1775. One century scarce perform'd its destined round, When Gallic powers Columbia's fury found; And so may you, whoever dares disgrace The land of freedom's heaven-defended race! Fix'd are the eyes of nations on the scales, For in their hopes Columbia's arm prevails. The District of Columbia is bordered by Maryland to the north, south, and east and the Potomac River to the west. Citizens were granted the right to vote in 1961 but have no representatives in Congress.
