Old Dartmouth

  The Old Dartmouth Nova Scotia Flag

 

 

 

Dartmouth was founded in 1750.

 

Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth was nicknamed the City of Lakes after the large number of lakes located in the city and still retains the nickname to this day.

 

In 1750, the sailing ship Alderney arrived with 353 immigrants. Municipal officials at Halifax decided that these new arrivals should be settled on the eastern side of Halifax Harbour in an area known to the Mi'kmaq as Boonamoogwaddy or Tomcod Ground. The community was later given the English name of Dartmouth in honour of William Legge, the first Earl of Dartmouth who was a former Secretary of State. By 1752 fifty three families consisting of 193 people lived in the community. In 1873 Dartmouth was incorporated as a town and a Town Hall was established in 1877.

 

The town was permanently linked to Halifax by the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge in 1955 which led to rapid suburban growth. The Town of Dartmouth amalgamated with several neighbouring villages to form The City of Dartmouth in 1961.

 

The A. Murray MacKay Bridge opened in 1970, furthering commercial and residential growth. The city was dissolved on April 1, 1996 when its government was amalgamated into the Halifax Regional Municipality (also know as the HRM).

 

Dartmouth has been home to several Canadian Forces installations located at CFB Shearwater.

 

Pictures by Roz Prince & Staff