Halifax, founded in 1749, is a community and former city in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Halifax was the shire town of Halifax County and the provincial capital.Halifax was established by the British to counter-balance the French presence in Québec and Acadia, which at the time included present-day New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island and the Gaspe Peninsula. For most of its early history, Halifax was the primary North Atlantic base for the Royal Navy, it prospered during times conflict and languished during times of peace. Despite Halifax's status as the regional centre and colonial capital, the city rarely saw commercial or economic success in its early years.The original settlement of Halifax occupied a small stretch of land inside a palisade at the foot of Citadel Hill on the Halifax Peninsula, a sub-peninsula of the much larger Chebucto Peninsula that extends into Halifax Harbour. Halifax subsequently grew to incorporate all of the north, south, and west ends of the peninsula with a central business district concentrated in the southeastern end along "The Narrows".

When the British founded the city in 1749, what attracted them most to the location of Chebucto was the tremendous harbour. However, another strong feature from a defensive perspective was the high hill overlooking the harbour and its approaches. On this hill was constructed the central fortress for the defence of the new town and naval base, and it was named the Citadel. (wikipedia)

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