the flag
The current Atlanta flag depicts the seal of the City, a phoenix rising from flames, the word ‘Resurgens’ (rising again) reads above the image flanked by the dates ‘1847’ and ‘1865’. The first date is a reference to the official chartering of Atlanta, and the second refers to the beginning of the city’s reconstruction following the Civil War. It's an effective and accurate representation of our city, but outdated and ignorant of the great strides we’ve made in the past century and a half.
This flag was developed to symbolize our city and represent fourofour. It was designed around some of the most historically significant times in the history of Atlanta. It was also designed to be adaptable and hold it's meaning even when broken down into individual elements.
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the meaning
The black circle in the center represents Inside the Perimeter, a phrase any native Atlantan knows, and the open space around the circle is Outside the Perimeter. Within the circle are four stars, each of which embodies a defining moment in Atlanta’s brief history.
In the same vein of the existing flag, we first cite Reconstruction. Atlanta’s rebuilding following Sherman’s march through Georgia is undoubtedly one of the most significant factors of Atlanta’s development as a modern city and exhibited the perseverance of our residents.
Like many Southern cities, Atlanta played a significant role in during the Civil Rights movement which is the basis for our second star. Our streets were home to many prominent civil rights activists and the venue for many more influential protests. It was here that we led by example.![]()
The third star represents the 1995 World Series. This event was the first World Series win in Atlanta, but more importantly, it established Atlanta as a progressive, global city. Turner Broadcasting aired the 1995 Braves season nationally. Our city hustled hard that year, and the whole country watched it pay off.
Our final star is the 1996 Olympics, arguably the most significant event to take place in our city in the past fifty years. The Olympics brought thousands of visitors from all over the world, and supplied nearly as many jobs to international immigrants. We were put on the center stage and accommodated the world.