The city flag was originally used in the 1913
Columbus Day celebration and other holidays in an unofficial capacity for three years until it was officially adopted by the city government on January 29, 1917. It uses the city
seal, which was designed in 1823 and officially adopted in 1914. The
motto contained within the seal are the Latin words '''', meaning "God be with us as he was with our fathers". The flag placed 133rd out of 150 city flags in a 2004 survey by the
North American Vexillological Association, based on appearance. It is commonly categorized by
vexillologists as a "seal on a bed sheet". ==Use==