Halifax, capital of Nova Scotia and the largest city in Atlantic Canada, occupies a strategic and central location on the province's east coast and is one of the world's largest harbours.

Sometimes called "Warden of the North" for its historic military role, today it is a major regional centre for Atlantic Canada's economy.

Founded in 1749 and first named Chebucto, it was renamed Halifax shortly after in honour of George Dunk, Earl of Halifax and Chief Lord of Trade and Plantations, who masterminded its settlement.

On April 1^st 1996 Halifax was amalgamated with neighbouring communities to form the Halifax Regional Municipal Government, but its individual identity has been retained.

Population
Until recently, Halifax has been overwhelmingly British, and people of British origin still make up the majority of the population, with the ENGLISH and IRISH being the largest groups and the SCOTS somewhat fewer. These groups were present at Halifax's founding and were soon joined by GERMANS ("Foreign Protestants") and AMERICANS. BLACKS, some from Africa, others escaping the American Revolution or slavery, settled in or near Halifax. From the early to mid-19th century, Irish Catholics moved to Halifax, many coming from the height of the Irish potato famine (1840s).
Today the multicultural mix is somewhat larger. Late-19th-century immigration to Canada mostly bypassed Halifax for Ontario and the West. Growth has therefore been slow, dependent more on natural increase and on migrants from rural Nova Scotia. Summer brought additional army and navy personnel (as did war); winter, extra dock and railway workers.
Halifax ranked fourth in size of Canadian cities at Confederation, but its position slipped thereafter. Expansion of the city boundaries westward in 1969 boosted the population considerably, and the recent amalgamation with neighbouring municipalities has once again advanced its metropolitan ranking. Many newcomers to Halifax-Dartmouth come and go as transients, employees of the armed forces, national corporations, research institutes and the federal government.

Economy and Labour Force
The strength of the metropolitan area economy today rests on traditional defence and port functions, and on the diversifying and expanding service sector. Manufacturing employs few people. Fishing is unimportant locally even though National Sea, one of the world's largest manufacturers of fish products, is headquartered in Halifax. Regional prominence in new producer service industries (eg, research activities in the health, marine and university sectors) as well as the traditional functions of government, trade, distribution, transportation and finance, all sustain Atlantic Canada's most dynamic urban economy. In fact, considerable disparities distinguish the well-being of the Halifax-Dartmouth area from most of the Maritimes and Newfoundland. Despite success, majority control of the economy lies beyond the city; branch businesses are the major employers.

Cultural Life
Halifax is the cultural centre of Nova Scotia. From its founding, music, art and the theatre have been central attractions. When it was a garrison town, many officers both supported and participated in these activities.
The NEPTUNE THEATRE, the NOVA SCOTIA COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN and Symphony Nova Scotia today continue these traditions. Well-known writers associated with the capital are Thomas Chandler HALIBURTON, Thomas MCCULLOCH, Thomas RADDALL, Hugh MACLENNAN and Charles RITCHIE. MacLennan's Barometer Rising details the drama surrounding the Halifax Explosion of 1917 in the city's North End, commemorated by the Bell Tower at Fort Needham Memorial Park.
The Nova Scotia Museum and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic exhibit the historic past, which is also recorded by the Public Archives of Nova Scotia. Traditions are further upheld by long-established ethnic organizations such as the St Georges Society (1768), the North British Society (1768) and the Black Cultural Centre in Dartmouth.
There are several universities in Halifax, most with longstanding religious affiliations. The exception is DALHOUSIE, founded in 1818. SAINT MARY'S (chartered 1841) is the oldest English-speaking Roman Catholic university in Canada. King's College University, formed as an Anglican institution in 1789 at Windsor, moved to Halifax in 1923. MOUNT SAINT VINCENT, a university since 1966, was founded in 1873 by the Sisters of Charity as a residential school for young ladies and received degree-granting status in 1925. DALTECH (Technical University of Nova Scotia), the Nova Scotia Institute of Technology and the Nova Scotia Community College offer specialized programs.