Brighton, Michigan

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Brighton, Michigan
Motto: yo
Location of Brighton, Michigan
Location of Brighton, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°31′36″N 83°47′2″W / 42.52667, -83.78389
Country United States
State Michigan
County Livingston
Area
 - Total 3.7 sq mi (9.6 km²)
 - Land 3.6 sq mi (9.3 km²)
 - Water 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²)
Elevation 925 ft (282 m)
Population (2000)
 - Total 6,701
 - Density 1,857.0/sq mi (717.0/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 48114, 48116
Area code(s) 810
FIPS code 26-10620[1]
GNIS feature ID 0621987[2]

Brighton is a city in Livingston County, the fastest growing county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,701, while the 2006 estimate places the population at 7,263. The city is part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area. Brighton is one of two incorporated cities in Livingston County, and incorporates land that once part of Brighton Township, Green Oak Township, and Genoa Township.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.7 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.22%) is water. Having I-96 and US 23 intersect in Brighton allows its residents the ability to travel over Southeast Michigan with ease. Brighton is central to a many larger areas which is a great advantage to its residents.

Time from Brighton to:

[edit] Major highways

 I-96
US 23

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 6,701 people, 3,103 households, and 1,746 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,857.0 per square mile (716.7/km²). There were 3,241 housing units at an average density of 898.2/sq mi (346.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.61% White, 0.34% African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.48% of the population.

There were 3,103 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.7% were non-families. 37.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.7% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,897, and the median income for a family was $62,222. Males had a median income of $48,554 versus $30,877 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,393. While Brighton proper may not reflect it, Brighton's surrounding townships and communities of some 60,000 people have median household incomes in excess of $80,000, making it one of the prosperous places in Michigan. Additionally, about 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over in the 2000 census.

A majority of Livingston County and the areas neighboring it in Ingham County and Shiawasse County tend to be conservative voters. There is a saying among local republican politics which states, "If I cannot get elected in here, then I will quit politics all together."--Joe Hune

[edit] Education

The Brighton Area Schools System is a collection of nationally and state-recognized institutions of excellence. They are annually ranked as some of the best places in the State of Michigan and Brighton High School is a repeating contender for a spot on the list of the 1000 best high schools in the country by Newsweek for their environment and quality of education. The schools comprising the Brighton Area School District and the locations they serve are as follows:

Establishments served by the Brighton Area Schools (all and parts of)

Elementary

  • Hilton
  • Hornung
  • Hawkins
  • Spencer
  • Lindbom
  • Miller Early Childhood Center

Middle

  • Maltby
  • Scranton

High

Additional Schools Serving Brighton Residents

  • Charyl Stockwell Academy [1] - Public Charter School
  • St. Patrick Elementary and Middle School (Catholic)
  • Maple Tree Montessori Academy
  • Shepherd of the Lakes Christian Preschool to Third Grade
  • Cornerstone Christian School
  • Tri-Lakes Baptist School

Satellites of Colleges

[edit] Government

The city of Brighton's wastewater treatment plant facility is located in Hamburg Township and services the city of Brighton and parts of Genoa, Brighton, and Hamburg townships. The city's two water plants also services both the city and parts of Genoa, Brighton and Hamburg townships.

Fire service for the city is provided through a separate governmental entity called the Brighton Area Fire Authority, which also services the Townships of Brighton and Genoa.

Library services for the city is provided through a separate governmental entity called the Brighton District Library, which also services the townships of Brighton, Genoa and Green Oak.

Recreation services for the city is provided through a separate governmental entity called the Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority, which also services the townships of Brighton, Genoa and Green Oak, as well as the Brighton Area Schools.

[edit] Downtown & Business

Brighton is the commercial hub for its surrounding townships in Livingston County. Most of the jobs in the actual downtown are commercial services however, when you get to the city borders there is some industry. With the addition of new restaurants and bars and a revamping of a major upscale jewler, Downtown Brighton is establishing itself as the new destination place for southeast Livingston County.

Downtown is considered to be located at the intersection of Main Street and Grand River Avenue. The setting there is in line with Brighton's core values as a family oriented place and it's love for parks. The heart of downtown contains the Millpond and The Imagination Station. The Millpond regularly holds concerts in the summer that are frequently huge successes. Across the Millpond is the Imagination Station which is a giant wooden playstructure complex for childeren of all ages. Right next to these two are an array of resturants and other eateries. These include Ciao Amicis (Italian), Stillwater (Classic American Grill) and The Yum Yum Tree (Ice cream and Sweets).

[edit] Popular culture

In the fifth episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (105), the character Harriet Hayes (played by actress Sarah Paulson) says that she is from Brighton, Michigan.

In Aspen Extreme the movie begins in Brighton, Michigan with the two main characters being maintenance staff at the local ski hill, Mt. Brighton.

The 1987 Horror film, The Gate, starring a young Stephen Dorff, had its world premier at the Brighton Cinemas in Brighton, the producers decided to have the official premier in a town called Hell, Michigan, but Brighton was the nearest town with a Theater large enough to hold the event. Dorff and the other stars of the movie attended the premier.

[edit] Notable residents

  • George W. Romney - Buried at Brighton's Fairview Cemetery. Republican. Board chairman and president, American Motors,; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 12th Senatorial District,; Governor of Michigan,; resigned 1969; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1964; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1968; U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,; member of Wayne State University board of governors,.
  • Kinsley S. Bingham - Bingham was elected as the first Republican Governor of Michigan in 1854 and was re-elected in 1856; he was the first Republican to be elected Governor of any state. He was known as the farmer-governor of Michigan and was instrumental in establishing the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan (today, Michigan State University). Actively campaigned for Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 election. Bingham was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate in 1858 and served in the 36th and 37th Congresses from March 4, 1859, until his death on October 5, 1861, he is interred in Old Village Cemetery in Brighton.
  • Drew Henson - starred as a high school football, basketball and baseball player at Brighton High School, setting a national record for home runs hit, went on to play quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines, and briefly played for the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys, he is currently on the Minnesota Vikings as a 3rd string quarterback
  • Denny McLain - Star pitcher for the 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers, and 1968 Cy Young award winner resides in the Brighton area (Pinckney).
  • Mickey Stanley - Very popular outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, and famous for switching to Shortstop in the 1968 World Series has lived in the Brighton area since 1978.
  • Danny Spanos - Had hit album "passion in the dark" in 1983, and a hit single off the album called "Hot Cherie" . He also played drums for Redbone, a band most famous for its hit single "come and get your love" in the 1970s, at the time going under his given name "George Spannos".
  • Matthew Lillard - Lived in Brighton for a brief time from 4th grade until Junior year of high school whereafter he moved to California to begin his film acting career.
  • John Powell - BHS FOOTBALL

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links

Coordinates: 42°31′46″N, 83°46′49″W

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Livingston County, Michigan
County seat: Howell
Cities

Brighton | Howell
Map of Michigan highlighting Livingston County
Villages
Charter townships
General law townships
Communities

Hell | Oak Grove | Parshallville | Whitmore Lake