What is the capital city of Nova Scotia?

The capital city of Nova Scotia is Halifax, on Canada’s Atlantic coast.

Halifax was founded in 1749 by the British and named for George Montagu-Dunk, the second Earl of Halifax. Its deep natural harbour made it a strategic naval base and an important gateway for trade, immigration and military activity. Before Halifax was established, Annapolis Royal served as Nova Scotia’s colonial capital.

The modern Halifax Regional Municipality was created in 1996 by combining the former city of Halifax with Dartmouth, Bedford and the surrounding Halifax County. That means “Halifax” can refer both to the historic urban centre and, in everyday usage, to the larger regional municipality. It remains the political and economic centre of Nova Scotia.

A common mix-up is confusing Halifax with Sydney, another important Nova Scotian city, or with Halifax in West Yorkshire, England. Nova Scotia’s Halifax is also the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada and is home to the provincial legislature.