Mississippi has voted to replace its 126-year-old flag that had incorporated a version of the Confederate battle flag in tan effort to show that the state has progressed.
A vote to adopt a new design titled 'The New Magnolia' - which was created by graphic artist Rocky Vaughan - as the state's new flag won with a vote of 68 per cent in a public referendum, according to results reported to NBC News.
Residents of Mississippi have since taken to social media to praise the much-needed change, with one user posting:
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"Years ago, when my University took down the state flag, I was a part of the student picket line that stood up to the dudes, who were not students, who tried to force it back up. And in a small way I feel a part of the fight that culminated in this."
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Another added: "In a world of rebranding fails the voters and state of Mississippi really nailed this one. Exceptional new state flag."
The state voted to change the new flag in June this year, selecting 'The New Magnolia' from among 3,000 submissions.
The new flag features red, gold and blue stripes, with a magnolia circled by 20 stars that represent Mississippi's admission as the 20th state.
The phrase 'In God We Trust' also features in the new design, along with a solitary gold five-point star at its peak, representing the Native tribes who lived on the land that became Mississippi.
The design 'represents Mississippi's sense of hope and rebirth, as the Magnolia often blooms more than once and has a long blooming season,' the Department of Archives and History said in a statement.
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It called the emblem 'sleek and updated to represent the forward progression of Mississippi.'
While the majority voted in favour of a refresh, Gov. Tate Reeves - who advocated putting the flag question to the voters - said removing it or changing it would not end longstanding divides.
"We must find a way to come together," he said during the legislative debate in June. "To heal our wounds, to forgive, to resolve that a page has been turned, to trust each other. With God's help, we can."
