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Harnett County, North Carolina (U.S.)

image by Jens Pattke, 30 December 2003, and António Martins-Tuválkin, 14 April 2007
Based on www.harnett.org/library/Harnett_County_Flag.gif

Description of the flag
Background on Harnett County
Details about the flag and arms

- indicates flag is known.
- indicates it is reported that there is no known flag.

Municipal flags in Harnett County:

See also:

Description of the flag

The arms seems to be Argent on a pale Sable a saltire Gules and chief of the field fimbriated Sable. Helmet and torse and mantling, Argent and Gules, and for crest a snail Sable shelled Argent. These arms are borne on the middle of a ~3:4 dark blue flag.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 14 April 2007

Background on Harnett County

Harnett County (91,025 inhabitants in 2000; 1,557 sq. km; County seat, Lillington) is located in central North Carolina.
"The county became a political entity in 1855, and was formed from Cumberland County. It was named for the Revolutionary War Patriot, Cornelius Harnett, delegate to the Continental Congress. The first settlers came in the mid 1720's, and were followed by the Highland "Scots." The Scots settled in the foot hills rather than in the rich alluvial soil area of the Coastal Plains. After the defeat by the British of Bonny Prince Charles at Culloden, the Scots came up the Cape Fear River in ever increasing numbers and settled in western Harnett County. The British also settled along the banks of the Cape Fear River in the coastal area, generally from Erwin to Wilmington. During the Revolutionary War the Scots, who were forced to take ironclad vows never again to take up arms against the British, were considered as traitors. Since their activity assisted the British against the American Patriots, public executions were not uncommon. One site near Lillington was the scene of a mass execution of Scot "Traitors."

One of the last battles of the War Between the States took place at Averasboro near Erwin. General Sherman's army, on its march to the sea, defeated the army of General Hardee and proceeded eastward. The centennial celebration of that event was held at the site of the battlefield in 1965. Only after 1880, did the population begin to establish itself in urban rather than rural areas. Lillington, Dunn, Coats, Angier, and Erwin became trading and commercial areas. Today more than one-fifth of the population resides in towns or villages. Agriculture and agricultural products are the greatest source of income to the county. The preponderance of the population is either engaged directly in agriculture or derives a major portion of its income from the economy created by agricultural pursuits.
www.harnett.org/history-of-harnett-county.asp History of Harnett County - County website

Details about the flag and arms

- from the County's website.
Resolution for the Official Flag of the County of Harnett:
"Be it resolved by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners that the following described flag shall hereafter be the official flag of Harnett County:
The Flag of Harnette County shall consist of a Blue Field with the Family Crest of Cornealius Harnett in the centre, and with the inscription, below the crest, in a semi-circular banner, of "HARNETT COUNTY"; and the length of the flag shall be seventy-five inches with a width of forty-nine inches.

Now, therefore, be it further resolved by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners that the said flag hereby adopted is to be used by and for the County of Harnett as its official flag, and no person, business, firm, corporation, organization or other entity shall use or attempt to use said flag for any purpose whatsoever without the prior written consent of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners.

Duly adopted this the Seventeenth Day of February, 1986".
http://www.harnett.org/LIBRARY/harnsealres1.jpg. Facsimile of the Resolution

Resolution of the Official Colours of the County of Harnett:
"Be it resolved by the Harnett County Board of Commissioners that the official colours of Harnett County shall hereafter be the Blue, White and Red shades appearing in the County of Harnett flag.
Duly adopted this the Seventeenth Day of February, 1986".
www.harnett.org/LIBRARY/harnsealres2.jpg

The Harnett County coat of arms, which appear in the middle of the County flag, is described as follows:
"The Harnett history has been located in the archives of the Historical Research Center and this renowned resource has authenticated the following information: Harnett is a surname which is found primarily in Ireland. It should be noted that Harnett family members have migrated through history thereby carrying the name to many areas. The Harnett coat of arms outlined in John Burke's "Encyclopaedia of Heraldry", 1847. It is described as "Ar. a pale sa. surmounted by a saltire gu. a chief az. Crest - A hornet fly, wings elevated, ppr. The pale is formed by 2 lines drawn perpendicular from the top to the base of the escutcheon. The saltire is formed by four lines...(which produce an X across the shield). The chief is the whole upper of the field, cut off horizontally". The color Argent (Silver) in the coat of arms of the family Harnett symbolizes Peace and Sincerity. It also reflects the hopes, ambitions and aspirations of its original bearer.
(ar.=silver or white; sa.=sable or black; gu.=gules or red; az.=azure or blue; ppr.=proper)".

This coat of arms has been adopted by the County of Harnett as its official coat of arms. Official Resolutions made February 17, 1986 (no facsimile shown)
www.harnett.org/LIBRARY/harnettseal.htm

The history and genealogy of the Harned family, showing the same coat of arms, are available on the the "The Harneds of North America" website.
http://www.harneds.org

Ivan Sache, 28 April 2008