The town of Halifax was founded by the British government under the direction of the Board of Trade and Plantations under the command of Governor Edward Cornwallis in 1749.

During 1916–1919 a mega construction project was undertaken by Canadian Government Railways (later Canadian National Railway) along the peninsula's Northwest Arm shoreline which saw a 4 km (2.5 mi) long rock cut blasted up to 30 m (98 ft) deep for a railway line running from Fairview Cove to serve the new Halifax Ocean Terminals which were built at the southeastern end; the rock from blasting work in the cut being used as infill for a portion of The Narrows.

In 1969, adjacent rural areas within the former County of Halifax (that at this time were beginning to urbanize) west of the isthmus were annexed into the city.

Glaciation also removed reddish till from sedimentary rock to the north and redeposited it as a drumlin to form Citadel Hill.

[5] Peninsular Halifax extends from the western shore of Halifax Harbour, and is connected to the much larger Chebucto Peninsula by an isthmus measuring 2.6 km (1.6 mi), defined by Fairview Cove and the Bedford Basin to the north and the Northwest Arm to the southwest.

The peninsula measures approximately 3.3 km (2.1 mi) at its widest and approximately 7.5 km (4.7 mi) at its longest, the peninsula's topography is relatively flat near the isthmus where Chebucto Field, an aerodrome that preceded Halifax Stanfield International Airport was located.

Another drumlin approximately 60 m (200 ft) above sea level is located at Citadel Hill and immediately offshore to the east at Georges Island.

Arenas Art Galleries Community Centres Libraries Museums Parks Pools Trails The Peninsula's population grew to a high of 92,511 in 1961--and decreased thereafter.

Being a very populated area, the peninsula hosts many businesses, government services, hospitals, post-secondary institutions, and more.

Robie Street runs approximately 4 km (2.5 mi), then continues on as Massachusetts Avenue.