I was happy to post when Pocatello was ranked 22nd by Forbes for business and in the top 5 places for the outdoorsman in Outdoor Life. To be fair I thought I had better disclose an area where Pocatello ranked dead last;
In 2004 The North American Vexillological Association ranked 150 city flags from across the nation. Pocatello has the distinct honor of being ranked last of the 150. After looking at the other 150 flags and reading the associations criteria for “good” and “bad” flags its clear
to see why Pocatello was last. Its a terrible design. After looking at the ranking on-line I drove to city hall to see if the flag is still being flown, and as yet I have yet to see it on the flag pole. This is probably for the better. Personally I think Pocatello should make another attempt. Study the criteria from the Vexillological Association then host a design contest then have a public vote. Then maybe we could have a banner we can be proud of. I can’t help but think there is some better symbol or symbols we can use that will artistically and acurately represent Pocatello than the phrase “Proud to be Pocatello” in 3D text generated on Microsoft Word.
Too add insult to injury a couple of years previous the same association rated the State Flags of the United States. Idaho was in the bottom 10. I have always been a bit irritated with all the state flags that look the same; state seal on blue background. It defeats the entire purpose of a flag, to be a unique identifier. Many of the state flags are indistinguishable from the top of a flag pole. Utah’s flag is similar, yet a bit better than Idaho. There was a push a few years back to replace it with a more unique and simple design. The entries were impressive and colorful, yet looking on the State of Utah’s website the same blue background flag is featured. The change must not have had enough support.
I know its not the most pressing issue but It doesn’t feel so good to be dead last. I would guess the number of people who choose where to live based on the appealing nature of the city’s flag is very very small but it still might be worth the effort to change ours, if just to pull us off the bottom of the list.
** Update **
I did finally see a Pocatello flag being flown. It was over the sewage treatment plant west of town…..really.
Our last place rank of 150 is well deserved. You would think we could come up with something a little more creative than something that looks straight out of a clipart software program. Maybe if there are enough complaints, something will change.