Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada,[1] approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) east of Toronto and 100 km (62 mi) west of Kingston. It is traversed by both Highway 401 and the former Highway 2. The west end of the Murray Canal that leads east to the Bay of Quinte is at the east end of the town.
Brighton | |
|---|---|
| Municipality of Brighton | |
 | |
| Motto: Where the past greets the future | |
  Brighton  Brighton | |
| Coordinates: 44°01′51″N 77°43′23″W / 44.03083°N 77.72306°W[1] | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Ontario |
| County | Northumberland |
| Formed | January 1, 2001 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Brian Ostrander |
| • Federal riding | Northumberland—Quinte West |
| • Prov. riding | Northumberland—Quinte West |
| Area | |
| • Land | 222.71 km2 (85.99 sq mi) |
| Population (2021)[3] | |
• Total | 12,108 |
| • Density | 54.2/km2 (140/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Postal Code | K0K 1H0 |
| Area code | 613 |
| Website | www |
Brighton later developed into 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 (formed on January 1, 2001, through an amalgamation of the former Town of Brighton and Brighton Township) is home to over 12,108 inhabitants,[4] with a higher than average percentage of those retired. This is common, 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.
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, just south of the town centre, is one of Brighton's most popular attractions. The park is noted for bird-watching and other nature-oriented activities. Memory Junction Railway Museum, located in a former Grand Trunk station, has a collection of rail equipment and memorabilia.
Communities
editBesides the town proper of Brighton, the municipality of Brighton comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including the following communities such as Carman, Codrington, Hilton, Spring Valley, Smithfield (partially); Butler Creek, Cankerville, Cedar Creek, Gosport, Orland, Presqui'le Point, Wade Corners.
History
editThe village of Brighton was incorporated on January 1, 1859. On December 1, 1980, it became a town.[5]
The original Simpson house, at 61 Simpson Street, was built in 1850.[6]
The artificial island area of Brighton
editPart 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.
Demographics
editIn the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Brighton had a population of 12,108 living in 5,014 of its 5,392 total private dwellings, a change of 2.2% from its 2016 population of 11,844. With a land area of 223.24 km2 (86.19 sq mi), it had a population density of 54.2/km2 (140.5/sq mi) in 2021.[8]
| 2021 | 2016 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,108 (+2.2% from 2016) | 11,844 (+8.4% from 2011) | 10,928 (+6.6% from 2006) |
| Land area | 223.24 km2 (86.19 sq mi) | 222.71 km2 (85.99 sq mi) | 222.76 km2 (86.01 sq mi) |
| Population density | 54.2/km2 (140/sq mi) | 53.2/km2 (138/sq mi) | 49.1/km2 (127/sq mi) |
| Median age | 56.0 (M: 53.6, F: 58.0) | 52.8 (M: 51.2, F: 54.3) | |
| Private dwellings | 5,392 (total) 5,014 (occupied) | 5,099 (total) | 4,825 (total) |
| Median household income | $81,000 | $68,683 |
Notable residents
edit- Eddie Hayward, racehorse trainer who won the Kentucky Derby
- Mark Kellogg, Associated Press correspondent killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
- Gail Vaz-Oxlade, financial writer and television personality. Host of the Slice series Til Debt Do Us Part and Princess.
Media
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Brighton". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
- ^ a b "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Brighton, Municipality". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Brighton, Municipality". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
- ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-02-09). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Brighton, Municipality (MU) [Census subdivision], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ Broughton, John William David (1981). "They desired a better country". pp. 5, 8. Archived from the original on 2014-05-27.
- ^ "Heritage Homes". Brighton Digital Archives. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 Census
- ^ "Population and dwelling counts: Canada, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (municipalities), Ontario". Statistics Canada. February 9, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "2021 Community Profiles". 2021 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. February 4, 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 12, 2021. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
- ^ "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. March 21, 2019. Retrieved 2012-03-12.
- ^ "2006 Community Profiles". 2006 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. August 20, 2019.
- ^ "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian census. Statistics Canada. July 18, 2021.
- ^ "Breaking News Stories | Northumberland News". 18 August 2023.
- ^ "Edville Gazette". Edville Gazette.