Brighton, Michigan

Brighton, Michigan
City
Downtown Brighton, Grand River Ave
Motto: "Where quality is a way of life"
Location of Brighton, Michigan
Coordinates: 42°31′36″N 83°47′2″W / 42.52667°N 83.78389°W / 42.52667; -83.78389
Country	United States
State	Michigan
County	Livingston
Government
• Mayor	Jim Muzzin[1]
Area[2]
• Total	3.69 sq mi (9.56 km2)
• Land	3.56 sq mi (9.22 km2)
• Water	0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation	925 ft (282 m)
Population (2010)[3]
• Total	7,444
• Estimate (2012[4])	7,552
• Density	2,091.0/sq mi (807.3/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	48114,48115,48116
Area code(s)	810 248
FIPS code	26-10620[5]
GNIS feature ID	0621987[6]
Website	Brighton City Website

Brighton is a suburb in metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area. It is one of two incorporated cities in Livingston County, and incorporates land that was once part of Brighton Township, Green Oak Township, and Genoa Township.

History

Brighton was established in 1832. It was incorporated as a village in 1867 and as a city in 1928.^[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.69 square miles (9.56 km²), of which 3.56 square miles (9.22 km²) is land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km²) is water.^[2]

Transportation

Time from Brighton to:

Major Thoroughfares

• I-96
• US 23
• Grand River Avenue

Climate

Brighton exhibits what is known as a continental climate biome. Within the heart of the Great Lakes region, Brighton weather ranges from warm summers with occasional thunderstorms to cold, dry winters with moderate snowfall. Brighton has many parks nearby for fall foliage viewing including Brighton Recreation Area and Kensington Metro Park.

Brighton area lakes are suitable for swimming from the standard Memorial Day to Labor Day schedule, and depending on yearly weather conditions, longer.

Demographics

The median income for a household in the city in 2009 was $47,668, and the median income for a family was $77,105.^[9] Males had a median income of $48,554 versus $30,877 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,781. Brighton's surrounding townships and communities, such as Brighton and Genoa Township, have median household incomes in excess of $90,000, making it one of the more 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.

2010 census

As of the census^[3] of 2010, there were 7,444 people, 3,603 households, and 1,811 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,091.0 inhabitants per square mile (807.3 /km²). There were 3,905 housing units at an average density of 1,096.9 per square mile (423.5 /km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of the population.

There were 3,603 households of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 49.7% were non-families. 42.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.81.

The median age in the city was 43.4 years. 19% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census^[5] 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 per square mile (346.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.76% White, 0.034% African American, 0.042% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.0093% 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.

Education

Brighton is served by

• Brighton Area Schools
• Charyl Stockwell Academy
• St. Patrick Elementary and Middle School (Catholic)
• Maple Tree Montessori Academy
• Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran: preschool - sixth grade
• Cornerstone Christian School
• Holy Spirit Roman Catholic School
• The Bridge

Satellites of Colleges

• Lansing Community College
• Washtenaw Community College
• Eastern Michigan University
• Cleary University

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.

Business district

The town's major business districts are located downtown and on either side of town. Brighton has two major shopping malls: Brighton Mall on the west side of town is a former enclosed mall which was rebuilt in 1996 as a power center, and Green Oak Village Place is a lifestyle center complex on the east side of town.

Several initiatives to revitalize downtown, such as streetscape improvements and displayed art, have been well received. A bronze nude entitled Decision Pending, purchased as part of the 2006 Brighton Biennial, generated some controversy and an unsuccessful campaign to relocate the statue.^[10][11][12]

Media

Local Radio Market

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.

The film Aspen Extreme begins in Brighton, 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 film's producers wanted to hold its official premier in the town of 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.

Notable people

• 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, and Detroit Lions.
• Mickey Stanley - Outfielder for the 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".
• Del Howison - A former resident of Winans Lake he is a Bram Stoker Award-winning editor and author whose story "The Lost Herd" was made into the premiere episode of the NBC television series "Fear Itself". He has appeared in over 15 films and owns Dark Delicacies in Burbank, California. He was also an actor for one season at the Brighton Playhouse. He is a graduate of South Lyon High School.
• Morgan Trent Former cornerback for the University of Michigan and current cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals, grew up in Brighton.

Gallery

• 

  Downtown Brighton, Main St.

• 

  Old Town Hall

• 

  Old Town Hall historical marker

• 

  St. Paul's Episcopal Church

• 

  St. Paul's Episcopal Church historical marker

• 

  Millpond Park

• 

  "Bob" sculpture, Main St. & Grand River Ave.

• 

  Brighton High School

References

http://www.hamburg.mi.us/news%20items/12152009-argus-Lindbom%20Elementary%20to%20Close%20Next%20Year.htm

External links

• Brighton City Web Site
• Livingston County Visitors' Bureau's Website
• Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce
• Livingston County Small Business & Technology Development Center

Coordinates: 42°31′46″N 83°46′49″W / 42.52944°N 83.78028°W / 42.52944; -83.78028

v t e Municipalities and communities of Livingston County, Michigan, United States County seat: Howell Cities Brighton Fenton ‡ Howell Villages Fowlerville Pinckney Charter townships Brighton Genoa Green Oak General law townships Cohoctah Conway Deerfield Hamburg Handy Hartland Howell Iosco Marion Oceola Putnam Tyrone Unadilla Unincorporated communities Anderson Bullis Crossing Chalkerville Chilson Cohoctah Cohoctah Center Deer Creek Deerfield Center Fleming Green Oak Gregory Hallers Corners Hamburg Hell Island Lake Kaiserville Lakeland Nicholson ‡ Oak Grove Parkers Corners Parshallville Plainfield Pettysville Rushton Tyrone Center Unadilla Whitmore Lake ‡ Williamsville Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties