Halifax's History
Today, the former city of Halifax forms the core of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) in Nova Scotia, Canada. However, it traces its roots to pre-European times.
The First Nation people of the Mi'kmaq called the Halifax area Jipugtug (or Chebucto), and though they didn't have long-term/permanent settlements in the area, evidence of Mi'kmaq burial sites and habitations have been found throughout the region.
Prior to the establishment of the settlement of Halifax, the territory was alternately occupied by the French, English, and even the Scottish.
The settlement of Halifax itself was founded by the British on June 21, 1749, and was named after George Montague-Dunk, the 2nd Earl of Halifax and President of the British Board of Trade. The outpost was established to counter-balance the French presence in nearby regions. Originally, it only occupied a small stretch of land at the foot of what is known today as Citadel Hill.
For most of Halifax' early history, it was the chief North Atlantic base for the British Royal Navy. After the Thirteen Colonies revolted and proclaimed their independence as the United States, tens of thousands of loyalists to the British Crown fled to Halifax.
The proposed union of the five British North American colonies into the Canadian Confederation drew resistance from many of Halifax' merchants and politicians; in the end, Nova Scotia still became part of the new Confederation.
During the late 60s, Halifax grew and incorporated a couple of Halifax County communities. In 1996, the City of Halifax was dissolved and amalgamated into the new Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), along with the City of Dartmouth, Town of Bedford, and the Municipality of the County of Halifax. Currently, the name "Halifax" refers to the entire Metropolitan Area.