 Halifax was the second town chartered, west of the Connecticut River on May 11, 1750 by New Hampshire Governor Benning Wentworth, meaning Halifax is the second oldest town in the state after Bennington.The town was named for the George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.8 square miles (103.1 km2), of which 39.8 square miles (103.0 km2) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.13%) is water.