It was adopted by the North Dakota Legislative Assembly on March 11, 1911, although the color was not precisely specified at that time.[1] Legislation in 1943 brought the flag in line with the original troop banner, which is on display at the North Dakota Heritage Center in Bismarck. The flag also resembles the Great Seal of the United States.
The flag's official proportions are 33:26, significantly shorter than many other state flags; however, in practice, the flag is produced and sold in 5:3 ratios.