| Brighton | |
|---|---|
| — Town — | |
| Municipality of Brighton | |
| Motto: Where the past greets the future | |
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Brighton
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Northumberland |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mark Walas |
| • Federal riding | Northumberland—Quinte West |
| • Prov. riding | Northumberland—Quinte West |
| Area[1] | |
| • Land | 222.52 km2 (85.9 sq mi) |
| Population (2006)[1] | |
| • Total | 10,253 |
| • Density | 46.1/km2 (119.4/sq mi) |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| Postal Code | K0K 1H0 |
| Area code(s) | 613 |
| Website | www.brighton.ca |
Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) east of Toronto and 100 km (62 mi) west of Kingston. It is intersected by both Highway 401 and the former Highway 2. It is on the West end of the Bay of Quinte on the entrance of the Murray Canal.
Brighton was primarily an agricultural community, specializing in the farming of apples and production of new apple types. However, in recent years, many of the original orchards in the area have been partially removed, to make way for the steadily growing population, and more profitable agricultural produce, such as: wheat, corn and soybeans. In late September, Brighton is host to Applefest, its largest yearly festival.
The Municipality of Brighton (an amalgamation of the former Town of Brighton and Brighton Township) is home to approximately 10,200 inhabitants,[1] with a higher than average percentage of those retired. This is normal, as the quiet, clean and friendly atmosphere of many smaller towns near lake Ontario tend to draw the elderly as popular places for retirement living. Many small hamlets surround the town, including Codrington, Carman, Hilton, Spring Valley and Smithfield.
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, just south of the town, is one of Brighton's most popular attractions. The park is noted for birdwatching and other nature-oriented activities.
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Some light controversy extends to the original founders of the town in the mid-19th century. Although there is a monument commemorating the founding of Brighton to the surnamed Simpson families of the area, there is a great deal of counter-evidence pointing to the presence of the Scottish Thayer settlers in the area for some years before the arrival of the Simpsons. The Thayers, it is said, were harvesting apples from the fertile soil around the Brighton area well before the Simpsons had even arrived. Descendants of these families live in the town to this day. The original Simpson house, is located on 61 Simpson Street, over 150 years old.
Part of the current Municipality of Brighton is on a separate artificial island. This is a consequence of the borders chosen when the Township of Brighton was created in 1851, and the excavation of the Murray Canal across the historic Isthmus of Murray. The Murray Canal opened in 1889.
Population trend:[2]
Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 3965 (total dwellings: 4328)
Mother tongue:
| Trent Hills | ||||
| Cramahe | Quinte West | |||
| Brighton | ||||
| Lake Ontario |