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Douglas, Arizona (U.S.)

Cochise County

image by Daniel Rentería, 22 July 2025

Description of the flag
Previous flag

See also:

Description of the flag

The current flag of Douglas was adopted as official on May 14, 2025. The process for the flag's adoption started in November; the idea presented at the council meeting of November 13. That day, Marilyn de la Torre, activity aide, explained Douglas has never had a city flag before (clearly untrue, as it has had three prior flags!) Prior to this, local high schools were contacted, offering incentive for students to submit flag designs to the city government. Seven designs were submitted, with one design by a Douglas High School art student heavily influencing the final product. On December 4, many designs were presented, with Concept No. 7 being chosen; many different designs were created to assure variety for the council members. It was agreed to not include local Indian symbols on the flag at the April 9, 2025 meeting as they could not get approval from the "relevant Indian nation"; along with the addition of a background, the logo's outer ring was modified from a sun to a circle. In the end, Revised Concept 1B was adopted as the official city flag at the May 14 council meeting, having a tie with Concept 1C and having audience members vote. Although the final image was created by Marilyn de la Torre, the flag's final product is as it is because of input from the city council. It appears the motive for the flag's adoption was for mayor Donald Huish to leave a legacy to the city.
Sources: Douglas City Council meeting agendas/minutes, Douglas Dispatch.

Description as follows (from a Meeting Attachment https://mccmeetingspublic.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/)

The City of Douglas' new flag design celebrates its rich cultural heritage, natural landscape, and enduring community values through intricate symbols that honor the history, geography, and spirit of the city and its people.

Outer Circle
1. Family: Emblematic of the community's strong family values and the close-knit bonds cherished by Douglas residents.
2. Water Droplets: Three droplets symbolize the transformative monsoon rains, which bring life to the vegetation and uplift the community’s spirit.
3. Creosote Bush: This plant, which emits a distinct scent before rainfall, captures the nostalgia and local knowledge of the region's monsoon season, a part of Douglas' heritage. Additionally, the creosote bush symbolizes resilience, as it thrives in harsh desert conditions, representing the strength and endurance of the Douglas community.
4. Bulldog: As the mascot of Douglas High School, the bulldog is a symbol of community pride, representing loyalty and tradition under the motto, "Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog."
5. Copper Pick: A homage to the second oldest rivalry in the United States, commemorated by the Pick game against Bisbee High School, which is celebrated on one of the nation’s oldest fields.
6. Guitar/Music: Represents the role of music in uniting the community through song and dance, reflecting the joy and cultural vibrancy shared in Douglas.

Central Circle
At the heart of the flag, the central circle presents symbols that illustrate the foundations and distinctive achievements of Douglas:

1. Smelter Smokestacks: In the early 1900s, Douglas, Arizona, was home to two copper smelters that played a central role in the city’s economy. The first, the Calumet and Arizona Company Smelter, was built in 1902 and became a key competitor to the Phelps Dodge Corporation. The second, the Copper Queen Smelter, operated from 1904 until 1931. In 1931, Phelps Dodge acquired the Calumet and Arizona Company and renamed the smelter the Douglas Reduction Works, solidifying its place as the town’s main industry. The smokestacks of this historic smelter, symbols of Douglas’s industrial heritage, were dismantled in 1991.
2. Cow, Lamb, and Chicken: These icons represent the city's ranching heritage and ongoing agricultural contributions.
3. Military Helmet: Honors the deep respect for military service and the strong presence of veterans within the community.
4. Airplane: An outline of the Emigh Trojan A2 model, manufactured at the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport, symbolizes Douglas's rich aviation history. Notably, Douglas was home tothe first international airport in the United States, highlighting its unique role in connecting communities across borders and advancing early aviation.
5. Baseball Player: This symbol commemorates the remarkable achievement of the 1958 Douglas Copper Kings, who made baseball history with a record-breaking game in which every starting player hit a home run. This incredible feat not only showcased the talent of Douglas’s players but also cemented a proud and rich baseball heritage for the city.
6. D Hill: Positioned below these symbols, D Hill is a distinctive geographical landmark that signifies community identity and lights up nightly using solar power thanks to community pride led by the Rotary Club.
7. Train: Perched on D Hill, it stands as a symbol of our town’s early success, marking the vital role of transporting copper ore from the Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee to the smelter in Douglas.

Center of the Crest

Border Representation: The innermost circle of the flag, with progressively smaller and more open lines, symbolizes Douglas' shared border with Agua Prieta. This element represents the community's sense of unity and connection with its neighboring city.

Details within the Globe:
Two Arrows: These arrows signify Douglas' role in global trade, emphasizing cross-border relations and trade with Mexico. The arrows are in the current colors of the city, further symbolizing Douglas' unique identity and pride.
Purple Heart: The location of Douglas is marked with a purple heart within the globe, honoring its status as a Purple Heart Community.

Previous flags

image by Daniel Rentería, 19 July 2023

The flag of Douglas since 2017 (or, less likely, 2018) displays the logo adopted in December 2016. The flag can be seen here: https://twitter.com/APS_Rich/
Daniel Rentería, 19 July 2023

image by Masao Okazaki, 19 July 2023

On the photos from the Annual Arizona League of Cities and Towns Conference (2010) several city flags are visible: www.glendaledailyplanet.com/league_of_arizona_cities_and_towns_2010.htm including that of the City of Douglas which shows the city logo on a white (or beige) background
Valentin Poposki, 16 November 2011

According to Valentin's post, the flag had the logo on a white background. The new logo first appeared on the Facebook page in December 2016.
Old logo: https://www.facebook.com/photo
Masao Okazaki, 19 July 2023

image located by Daniel Rentería, 25 January 2024

According to the Tucson Daily Citizen of July 10, 1950, the adoption of a Douglas city flag was expected the day after at a council meeting. However, the adoption of the flag was postponed because Mrs. Patterson, who promoted the move for a city flag, was not present at the meeting.

The flag was designed by Owen Williams, junior high school art student. The background is copper-colored, symbolizing Arizona, the copper state. The upper left corner displays blue, white, and red, the national colors. The Mexican national colors, red, white, and green are at the lower left corner, showing the status of Douglas as a city by the Mexican border. The city seal is pictured in the center.

The idea of a city flag came about two years before by Mrs. George Patterson. It did become a project by Mrs. Leo Kopalka, art teacher, who picked the design by Williams out of all submitted by other students, however, with one suggested change. Mrs. Patterson created the flag with satin supplied by Ben Williams, mayor at that time. The flag was unofficially adopted on July 4, since it was carried in the city's Fourth of July parade and then used at other ceremonies. This flag became official on August 7, 1950 at a city council meeting.

Image from the August 2, 1950 issue of the Tucson Daily Citizen.
Daniel Rentería, 25 January 2024