The 48-star U.S. flag placed its stars in six aligned horizontal rows of eight. It represented the Union after New Mexico and Arizona became states.
Specification
The flag retained thirteen alternating red and white stripes. Its blue union carried 48 white stars in a regular rectangular grid. The 1912 standard ended a period in which government flags had used many different proportions and star arrangements.
Display colors
Common digital referenceCommon digital referenceHistorical record
President William Howard Taft’s administration approved the six-by-eight arrangement in 1912. The flag became official on 4 July after the admission of New Mexico and Arizona. It remained current for 47 years, longer than any earlier star count, until Alaska’s admission produced the 49-star flag.
Record boundaries
This entry describes the standardized federal design, not every civilian-made 48-star flag. Surviving flags can differ in ratio, star orientation, and construction while still belonging to the same historical star-count period.
Source trail
Congressional Record: federal history of U.S. star arrangements ↗
The record notes Executive Order 1556 of 24 June 1912 and the Joint Army–Navy Board’s six-by-eight arrangement.