Halifax County, Nova Scotia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Halifax County | |
 |
|
| Country |  Canada |
|---|---|
| Province |  Nova Scotia |
| Regional Municipality | Halifax Regional Municipality |
| Incorporated County | April 17, 1879 |
| Dissolved into the Halifax Regional Municipality | April 1, 1996 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Regional Council |
| - Present Governing Council | Halifax Regional Council |
| Area | |
| - Total | 5,495.54 km² (2,121.8 sq mi) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 359,183 |
| - Density | 65.4/km² (169.3/sq mi) |
| Time zone | AST (UTC-4) |
| Area code(s) | 902 |
| Median Earnings* | $46,941 |
| *Median household income, 2000 ($) (all households) | |
| Website: http://halifax.ca | |
Halifax County was a county in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
The Municipality of the County of Halifax was the municipal government of Halifax County, apart from the separately incorporated towns and cities therein. It was dissolved in 1996, together with those town and city governments, in their amalgamation into Halifax Regional Municipality.
[edit] History
Deriving its name from George Montague-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax (1716-1771) Halifax County was established by Order-in-Council on August 17, 1759. The boundaries of four other counties - Annapolis, Kings, Cumberland and Lunenburg - were specifically defined at that time, with Halifax County comprising all the part of peninsular Nova Scotia that was not within their limits.
Following the Seven Years' War, Cape Breton Island was formally annexed to Nova Scotia. For a time it formed part of Halifax County.
The boundaries of Halifax County were modified in 1822. That part of St. Mary's Township (established in 1818) which had been in Halifax County was annexed to and included within Sydney County.
The dividing line between the Districts of Halifax and Colchester was confirmed and established on May 3, 1828. In 1835, Halifax County was divided and the Counties of Colchester and Pictou County were created out of parts of what had hitherto been Halifax County. Eventually in 1880 the boundary between the Counties of Halifax and Colchester was fixed.
The boundaries of the county are also the boundaries of the Halifax Regional Municipality, plus the Indian reserves of Cole Harbour, Sheet Harbour and Shubenacadie.
Halifax County continues to exist as a legal place name in Nova Scotia, though all municipal government and service delivery is provided by either the Regional Municipality or the reservations, and there is no additional county level government or administration.
