Halifax County was formed in 1758 from Edgecombe County and named after George Montague, the second Earl of Halifax. The county seat, also named Halifax, was established in 1757 and served as a political and social center during the American Revolution. Developed along the banks of the Roanoke River, Halifax served as a significant trading hub. Prosperity experienced in the latter half of the 18th century and early 19th century came to an end with the emergence of the railroad, which led trade to become less reliant on waterways. However, while the railroad caused the city of Halifax to suffer, the first railroad hub of the South actually emerged in Halifax County, Union Station in Weldon.

Halifax County was also significant politically, serving as the location for the NC Provincial Congress on April 12, 1776, where a resolution known as the Halifax Resolves was adopted. It empowered NC’s delegation to vote for independence from the British and is considered the first official action toward independence. The date of the resolution is commemorated on North Carolina’s flag. It was also in Halifax that the Declaration of Independence was first read and the first state constitution was drafted.

During the Civil War, Halifax County was also home to three sites along the Roanoke River that were part of the Underground Railroad. These sites have been designated by the National Parks Services as part of the national Underground Railroad program, which serves as an initiative to preserve and educate. The three sites are located in Halifax, Weldon and the Roanoke Canal Museum in Roanoke Rapids.

Home to Medoc Mountain State Park, Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake, the County draws a number of tourists for its outdoor recreation and natural beauty. Weldon is considered to be the Rockfish Capital of the World. Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck conserves rare waterfowl and conducts survival breeding programs in an effort to save waterfowl species from extinction. The Roanoke Canal Museum and Trail chronicles the nearly 200-year-old canal for more than 7 miles between Roanoke Lake and Weldon. The museum located in Roanoke Rapids houses history on the canal, its engineering and impacts on hydroelectric power.

Politically, Halifax has historically provided solid support to Democrats. However the margin of support has diminished since 2012. In 2012, Barack Obama won here by more than 32 points, while Hillary Clinton (2016) and Joe Biden (2020) won the county by margins of 27% and 21%, respectively. In 2022, Cheri Beasley carried the county by just 14.5%. Halifax also has the fifth-highest share of Black voters in the state. Over the last decade, Black voters have held a steady majority of the county’s electorate, between 53-52%.