Settled in 1669, the town of Halifax is a pastoral community located in the geographic center of Plymouth County. Early colonists found extensive woods of white and pitch pine, cedar and oak. The first saw mill was built about 1728 to process this lumber. Agriculture and lumbering continued to be the basis of the community's economy, and by 1794 there were five sawmills in operation. Lumber was sent south through the Taunton River system and east to the Jones River and North River shipyards. In addition to the saw mills, iron furnaces, a cotton factory and a large woolen mill were established by 1822.

In 1795, Halifax was the site of an early effort to construct a canal between Buzzards Bay and Massachusetts Bay by connecting the Taunton and North Rivers through the ponds of Halifax and Pembroke.

During the 19th century, as other communities became increasingly industrialized and Halifax's industries burned or closed, the town's economy shifted back to agriculture. Poultry and cranberry production continues today. Halifax is a quiet, residential community.