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Hampton, Virginia (U.S.)

Independent City

image by Randy Young, 3 July 2014

Description of the flag

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Description of the flag

An image of the City of Hampton flag than what appears at c1.staticflickr.com/3/2719/4342785692_4df6ae52fb.jpg. It is the flag of England with City of Hampton seal in upper hoist and the inscription, "Hampton, VA" above "July 9, 1610" in red lettering.
Seal (on far left): www.peninsulaanimalshelter.com/Pics/Seals.jpg
Dave Fowler, 3 July 2014

This is for the city of Hampton, Virginia, down in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area. Here is some information about the flag that I received from the assistant to the city manager:

"The City of Hampton flag contains the armorial bearings of the city in the upper left quadrant of the flag, which is shown on both sides alike. The armorial bearings of the city shall be of the design prepared and submitted by the College of Arms, London, England, under the date of December 20, 1960, with such words and figures engraved thereon as well, when used, produce impressions to be described as follows: The shield shall be divided in quadrants by the Red Cross of St. George; in each quadrant shall be a crestice buffalo with chains from the armorial bearings of the Third Earl of Southampton, Henry Wroithesley, for whom the city is named; on the pinnacle of the shield shall be found three gold fleur-de-lis on a blue backing, representing the arms of the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King James I of Great Britain, for whom Elizabeth City County, one of the original Virginia counties, was named. The supporter on the right shall be a halberdier of the reign of King James I, representing the first settlers in Hampton on July 9, 1610. The supporter on the left shall be the Algonquin Indian chief, Pochin, Chief of the Kecoughtan Indians at the time of the settlement on July 9, 1610. The crest of the helmet shall depict a Chesapeake Bay crab, representing the seafood industry in Hampton, holding in its claws the space capsule of the Project Mercury, representing the vehicle in which American's first spaceman ascended on May 5, 1961, and the Langley Laboratory of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in Hampton, Virginia, the home laboratory of the first astronauts.

The flag shall be made of bunting, merino, silk or other suitable material. It shall be the Red Cross of St. George, horizontally displayed on a white field (with the armorial bearings in the upper left quadrant as described above.) In the lower right quadrant shall be shown 'Hampton, Virginia, July 9, 1610,' so that is shall be shown alike on both sides.

The City Manager shall regulate the size and dimensions of the flag, which shall be displayed with the state flag and the flag of the United States of America at each public building and public school. The size and dimensions shall be similar to the state flag and U.S. flag. It can be flown on the same flagstaff or pole as the flag of the state and of the U.S. and can be placed immediately under the flag of the state. If a separate flagstaff or pole is provided for the flag of the city, it shall be flown to the immediate left of the flag of the state."

As you can see, the design, especially the arms, is rather intricate. However, I think it probably is a very striking design.

Randy Young, 21 January 2001

Originally posted at livepublish.municode.com (no longer available) was the legislation for the flag:

"Sec. 2-8. City flag generally.
The flag of the city shall be made of bunting, merino, silk or other suitable material. It shall be the Red Cross of St. George, horizontally displayed on a white field. In the upper left quadrant of the flag shall be displayed the armorial bearings of the city, so that it shall be shown on both sides alike. In the lower right quadrant shall be shown "Hampton, Virginia, July 9, 1610," so that it shall be shown alike on both sides. This flag shall be known and respected as the flag of the city. (Ord. No. 69; Code 1964, § 1-11)

Sec. 2-9. Duties of city manager as to city flag.
The city manager shall regulate the size and dimensions of the flag of the city and shall have the care and custody of such flag.
(Ord. No. 69; Code 1964, § 1-12)

Sec. 2-10. Display of flags at public buildings and schools.
The display of the flag of the United States of America, the flag of the state and the flag of the city at each public building and public school is authorized and encouraged. The flag of the city shall be of a size to be determined by the city manager and shall be of a size similar to the flag of the United States and of the flag of the state. The flag of the city may be flown on the same flagstaff or pole as the flag of the United States and the flag of the state and immediately under the flag of the state. If a separate flagstaff or pole be provided for the flag of the city, such flag shall be flown to the immediate left of the flag of the state.
(Ord. No. 69; Code 1964, § 1-13)

Dov Gutterman, 10 December 2002

A 2008 photograph shows the city's armorial bearings without the enclosing ring inscribed with the words "CITY OF HAMPTON" and "JULY 9, 1610" as seen in the official city seal. Additionally, the is abbreviation "VA" is spelled out on the flag in the old photograph.
Randy Young, 3 July 2014