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Cincinnati, Ohio (U.S.)

by Blas Delgado Ortiz

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I've seen the municipal flag once or twice in the city. I don't have photographic evidence, but I believe it's a white flag, with navy blue stripes, and a dark red "C" in the center. Inside the "C" it has the city's seal. Around the seal in the middle, there are Latin words JUNCTA JUVANT. Underneath, it has the year '1788'.
A Cincinnati user, 15 January 2002

The flag has a sword, a caduceus, and a Libra (balance) and the words "Juncta Juvant".
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 16 January 2002

Looking at the flag posted by Blas, I'd bet the stripes are intended to represent the Ohio River, *the* significant geographical feature of the city. The device in the center of the C is the city seal, adopted in 1819. According to http://www.rcc.org/budarchives/bud1999/cincinna.htm "juncta juvant" means "unity assists," presumably in the sense of "unity is strength."
Joe McMillan, 16 January 2002

From the city's website at http://www.rcc.org/budarchives/bud1999/cincinna.htm:

Winged Rod - Commerce
Serpents - Wisdom
Sword - Authority and Power
Scales - Justice
Juncta Juvant - Juncta -means to join, Juvant - means to help or assist. General translation: "Unity Assists"

From this website the ordinance:

§ 104-3. Official City Flag.

The flag of Cincinnati shall be rectangular in shape. It shall have a white groundwork. In the center shall be a red letter "C". Extending horizontally from either side of the letter "C" shall be three wavy parallel lines of navy blue. Within the letter "C" shall be the seal of the city of Cincinnati in blue. Extending upward from a point at the top of the letter "C" and spaced equally from its center line shall be a cluster of five buckeye leaves in red. The proportional dimensions of the flag and of its various parts shall be according to the official design thereof on file in the council chamber of the city of Cincinnati.

(C.O. 104-2; renumbered to C.M.C. 104-3, eff. Jan. 1, 1972)

Rob Raeside, 31 July 2002