Brighton, Alabama

Brighton
City
Location in Jefferson County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°26′20″N 86°56′43″W / 33.43889°N 86.94528°W / 33.43889; -86.94528Coordinates: 33°26′20″N 86°56′43″W / 33.43889°N 86.94528°W / 33.43889; -86.94528
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Jefferson
Area
• Total	1.4 sq mi (3.6 km2)
• Land	1.4 sq mi (3.6 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	509 ft (155 m)
Population (2013)[1]
• Total	2,896
• Density	2,600/sq mi (1,011.1/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	35020
Area code(s)	205
FIPS code	01-09400
GNIS feature ID	0114914

Brighton is a city near Birmingham, Alabama, United States and located just east of Hueytown. At the 2010 census the population was 2,945. It is one of four cities in Jefferson County named after cities in Great Britain. Many of its early settlers were of English descent and named the town after the English tourist and resort city of Brighton which is located on the English Channel.

Geography

Brighton is located at 33°26′20″N 86°56′44″W / 33.438958°N 86.945442°W / 33.438958; -86.945442.^[2]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.

History

By 1901, at least 100 families were living in Brighton, which was along a dummy railroad line built in 1889 by the Bessemer & Birmingham Railroad Company to connect those two cities. The city really started in 1892, when developer G.B. Edwards subdivided a tract of land and sold lots. The Old Huntsville Road became Main Street and the city was incorporated in 1901. The town had a population of 1,502 by the 1910 Census, with seventeen commercial establishments including eight grocery stores.

The city's fortunes have always been closely linked to those of Woodward Iron Company and when that industry moved out, the town rapidly declined. The graves of many early settlers of Scottish, English and German descent who came to work at Woodward can be found in Brighton Cemetery which still operates today.^[3]

In 1908, coal miner William Miller, who was black, was accused of blowing up the home of a mine operator. Miller was killed before white men would later be convicted of the crime. A mob dragged Miller out of the Brighton jail and killed him not far from Brighton City Hall where his historical marker now stands.^[4]

City Government

Brighton has a Mayor–council government, along with both Police, and Fire Departments.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,640 people, 1,413 households, and 921 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,599.1 people per square mile (1,003.9/km²). There were 1,636 housing units at an average density of 1,168.2 per square mile (451.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 9.01% White, 89.12% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.03% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,413 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.9% were married couples living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.29.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $21,364, and the median income for a family was $27,926. Males had a median income of $24,018 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,002. About 20.2% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,945 people, 1,105 households, and 696 families residing in the city. The population density was 789.3 people per square mile (818.1/km²). There were 1,360 housing units at an average density of 971.4 per square mile (377.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% Black or African American, 6.5% White, 1.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 13.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,105 households out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.6% were married couples living together, 31.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.39.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,929, and the median income for a family was $31,472. Males had a median income of $20,838 versus $28,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,858. About 14.1% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Parnell Dickinson, former professional football player
• Henry Panion, music director for Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and the Winans
• Dennis Weatherby, inventor, scientist, and university administrator
• William Miller, (d. 1908), a black coal miner, lynched after being wrongly accused of bombing the home of a coal mining operator

References

Municipalities and communities of Jefferson County, Alabama, United States County seat: Birmingham Cities Adamsville Bessemer Birmingham‡ Brighton Center Point Clay Fairfield Fultondale Gardendale Graysville Helena‡ Homewood Hoover‡ Hueytown Irondale Kimberly Leeds‡ Lipscomb Midfield Mountain Brook Pinson Pleasant Grove Sumiton‡ Tarrant Trussville‡ Vestavia Hills‡ Warrior‡ Towns Argo‡ Brookside Cardiff County Line‡ Maytown Morris Mulga North Johns Sylvan Springs Trafford West Jefferson CDPs Chalkville Concord Edgewater Forestdale Grayson Valley McDonald Chapel Minor Mount Olive Rock Creek Unincorporated communities Adger Alton Bayview Coalburg Corner Crumley Chapel Docena Dolomite Flat Top Hopewell Kimbrell‡ McCalla New Castle Palmerdale Sayre Shannon Watson Former towns Elyton Ensley Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

Father of Bo jackson: AD Adams Sr