- Keep It Simple (Less Is More): A well designed flag can easily be drawn from memory by a person of any age group
- Use Meaningful Symbolism: Colors, shapes, and symbols should be relevant and meaningful to Frankfort, KY
- Limited Number Of Basic Colors: Use only basic colors from the color wheel, and limit them to no more than three or four
- Easy To Read At A Distance: Avoid using letters, numbers, words, pictures, logos, and seals
- Distinct, Or Distinctively Related: Make your flag unique and distinguishable from other flags or, if you mimic other flags, make sure those flags are clearly relatable to Frankfort
Additional NAVA Resources
Frankfort Design Elements
Recommended Dimensions: 10(h) x 19(w)
Geographic & Historic Elements
- The Kentucky River: The river curves in an “S” shape through the middle of Frankfort. This is depicted on the current flag’s center seal.
- Segments: Old (Downtown) Frankfort is divided into North and South sections. This historic division once had a far more significant impact on the culture of Frankfort. Even today we can see the architectural and cultural footprints of a time when travel across the river was more difficult.
- Segments (Current): As Frankfort expanded it developed into distinct East and West sections in addition to the historic North and South sections.
- Waterways: Frankfort sits on the triple point of the original three counties of Kentucky. This point is located where Benson Creek meets the Kentucky River. To the west was Jefferson County (Louisville). To the east was Fayette County (Lexington). To the south was Lincoln County (Harrodsburg).
- Capitol In The Capital: Frankfort is the capital city of Kentucky, and as such the capitol building rests within its borders. Its easily distinguishable location on Capitol Hill makes it an easily recognizable landmark of the city.
- Three Capitols In One Capital: Depending on the interpretation, Frankfort contains three capitol buildings. The new (current) Kentucky capitol building, the old Kentucky capitol building, and the municipal city hall.
- Railroads: Even today we hear the klaxon call of train horns as they pass through our city. What is now Broadway was once Market Street given the fact that the farmers’ market along with many other vendors were located in a building along the railroad tracks.
- “Frankfort”: There wasn’t actually a fort here when Frankfort was founded. That only came later (during the Civil War) in the form of Fort Hill. “Fort” is a corruption of “ford” as in the place where a river is shallow and easy to cross. Stephen Frank, a white settler, was killed in a skirmish with Native Americans near the confluence of Benson Creek and the Kentucky River. The new settlement of “Frank’s Ford” was named in his honor and over time was corrupted to Frankfort. In 1780 the Kentucky River was not dammed as it is today, and the river was much more shallow and swift.
- Before “Frank’s Ford”: Even before white settlers came to Frankfort the Native Americans followed great streams of American Bison (buffalo) across the shallow ford near what is now Frankfort to cross the Kentucky River on their long journeys. Today we refer to it as the Buffalo Trace.
- The “Singing” Bridge: Before the current bridge was built in 1893 there was a covered bridge crossing of the Kentucky River at what is now the meeting point of St. Clair and Bridge Streets. This crossing was, until 1938, the primary connection between North and South Frankfort. It’s history has, unfortunately, not always kept up with its moniker. Two African American men have been lynched and hanged from the Singing Bridge over the course of its history: Marshall Boston in 1894 and John Maxey in 1909.
There is much more to discover regarding the history and geography of Frankfort. Visit the links above to find out more. We highly recommend that you visit the Capital City Museum to learn more about the unique history of our city.