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Halifax, England

Halifax
Halifax view from Beacon Hill.jpg
July 2009 view of Halifax from Beacon Hill
Halifax is located in West Yorkshire
Halifax
Halifax
Halifax shown within West Yorkshire
Population 88,134 (2011 Census) and a mid 2015 estimate of 90,472
OS grid reference SE090254
• London 165 mi (266 km) S
Metropolitan borough
Metropolitan county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Halifax
Postcode district HX1-7
Dialling code 01422
Police West Yorkshire
Fire West Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Yorkshire
53°43′30″N 1°51′47″W / 53.725°N 1.863°W / 53.725; -1.863Coordinates: 53°43′30″N 1°51′47″W / 53.725°N 1.863°W / 53.725; -1.863

Halifax is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. The town has been a centre of woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Piece Hall. Halifax is known for Mackintosh's chocolate and toffee products including Rolo and Quality Street. The Halifax Bank was also founded and is still headquartered in Halifax. Dean Clough, one of the largest textile factories in the world at more than 12 mile (800 m) long, was in the north of the town. The premises have since been converted for office and retail use including a gym, theatre, Travelodge and radio station.

The town's name was recorded in about 1091 as Halyfax, from the Old English halh-gefeaxe, meaning "area of coarse grass in the nook of land". This explanation is preferred to derivations from the Old English halig (holy), in hālig feax or "holy hair", proposed by 16th century antiquarians. The incorrect interpretation gave rise to two legends. One concerned a maiden killed by a lustful priest whose advances she spurned. Another held that the head of John the Baptist was buried here after his execution. The legend is almost certainly medieval rather than ancient, although the town's coat of arms carries an image of the saint. Another explanation is a corruption of the Old English hay and ley a clearing or meadow. This etymology is based on Haley Hill, the nearby hamlet of Healey (another corruption), and the common occurrence of the surnames Hayley/Haley around Halifax. The erroneous derivation from halig has given rise to the demonym Haligonian, which is of recent origin and not in universal use.


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