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The flags of the counties of the United States of America exhibit a wide variety of regional influences and local histories, as well as widely different styles and design principles. For example, some Floridian and Alabamian municipality flags feature a saltire, due to saltires being used on their state flags. Some Maryland county flags feature the coat of arms of the Calvert family, as it is featured on the Maryland state flag, and due to the Calvert family's prominence in Maryland history. Many counties went decades without a flag, until a certain event, such as a local sesquicentennial or the American bicentennial, spurred the creation of a flag. Frederick County, Maryland is one example, in 1976, it hosted a contest, asking the public to submit their designs to a commission. A panel then reviewed the five winning entries, choosing one to become the official county flag. Frederick County's example is typical of the flag adoption processes that many counties undertook with their flags. The 250th anniversary of Augusta County, Virginia's founding also spurred the creation of a flag, in 1988. Some flags, such as the flags of Montgomery County, Maryland, and Loudoun County, Virginia, were created by foreign entities, such as the College of Arms in the United Kingdom.
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Florida
Many Floridian county flags feature their county seals on a saltire, incorporating elements from the Floridian flag, itself based on the former Spanish flag, into their designs.
Maryland
Several Maryland county flags, such as the flags of Calvert County, Baltimore County, and Anne Arundel County, incorporate the coat of arms of the Calvert family in their designs, due to the design being featured in the Maryland state flag, and the Calvert family's prominence in Maryland history. Howard County's flag also incorporates design cues from the Maryland state flag, albeit of the Crossland banner, rather than Calvert family heraldry.
Texas
Some Texan county flags, such as the flags of Collin County, Dallas County, Falls County, Hidalgo County, and McLennan County, feature design cues, such as the Lone Star, taken from the Texas state flag.