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Gadsden, Alabama (U.S.)

Etowah County

image by Masao Okazaki, 9 July 2024
based on image located by Daniel Rentería, 5 March 2024
Source: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2698205410333513

Description of the flag
City Seal
Logo
Previous flag and seal

See also:

Description of the flag

I found a new logo and seal for the town.
New logo: https://www.facebook.com/photo
New sign: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php
svg of seal: https://cityofgadsden.com/ImageRepository
Masao Okazaki, 4 March 2024

Gadsden has adopted a new flag.
Flag
By Ordinance No. O-37-23, approved on June 27, 2023 and effective August 1, the new symbols of Gadsden were adopted. The ordinance describes the flag as follows: "The city shall also have and maintain an official city flag which consists of a white bar in the center with the city seal and with a border on either side in red."

By examining the image above, one half of the flag certainly appears to be gray instead of the red mentioned in the ordinance.
Daniel Rentería, 4 March 2024

A recent photo of the flag: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php
Masao Okazaki, 9 July 2024

Seal

image located by Masao Okazaki, 4 March 2024

By Ordinance No. O-37-23, approved on June 27, 2023 and effective August 1:
"The city shall have an official seal, at the top of which, just within the margin, shall be the word 'GADSDEN.' At the bottom of the seal shall be the word 'ALABAMA.' On the left side shall be the abbreviation 'EST.' and on the right side shall be the year '1846.' In the center of the seal shall be a replica of the Coosa River Memorial Bridge built in 1927, a replica of the Coosa River flowing through Gadsden, a replica of Noccalula Falls flowing from the mountain, and a replica of the downtown building skyline along Broad Street. Such other words, figures or objects may be engraved or placed thereon as the city council may determine"

New seal: https://cityofgadsden.com/ImageRepository
Masao Okazaki, 4 March 2024

Logo

image located by Masao Okazaki, 4 March 2024

By Ordinance No. O-37-23, approved on June 27, 2023 and effective August 1.
New logo: https://www.facebook.com/photo
Masao Okazaki, 4 March 2024

Previous flag and seal

image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 11 November 2005

A vertical green-yellow-green triband with the city seal centered.
Al Kirsch, 28 August 2005

Gadsden is where I grew up and I can confirm that the city flag is a green-yellow-green tri-color with the city logo on the yellow stripe. The logo depicts a statue of Emma Sansom (more on her later), an industrial and an agricultural scene. During the Civil War union raiders would dash into parts of north Alabama and north Georgia from areas they controlled in an attempt to disrupt the confederate supply lines and destroy war related industry. The areas in and around Gadsden are rich in coal and iron ore and became important in the production of cannon and thus were a target for those raids. Owing to the importance of the area a trap was set for the raiders by confederate general Nathan Bedford Forrest. During a subsequent raid into the area the trap was sprung but following heavy fighting the union forces were able break off the engagement and make good their escape. Fleeing north through Gadsden the raiders burned the bridge that crosses the Coosa River, which runs through the center of town, in an attempt to slow Forrest pursuit. This is where Emma Sansom comes into the story. Being a local girl, she knew the area well and was able to show Forrest's men where to ford the river and thus keep up the chase and inflict many casualties on the raiders. She became a heroine to the local people. The statue of her, as shown on the city logo, sets on the spot where it is said that with outstretched arm she showed the way.
Michael Chastain, 18 October 2002

The flag of Gadsden was adopted as official on August 31, 1937. That year, the city commission appointed a group of four men and five Woman's Club members to create one, who decided on this design.
Source: the Gadsden Times, May 1, 1960
Daniel Rentería, 4 March 2024

City Seal

image located by Paul Bassinson, 6 April 2019

Source: https://halfwheel.com/
Paul Bassinson, 6 April 2019