Brighton is a city in
Livingston County in the U.S. state of
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
. As of the
2020 census, its population was 7,446. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton
Urban Area
An urban area is a human settlement with a high population density and an infrastructure of built environment. Urban areas originate through urbanization, and researchers categorize them as cities, towns, conurbations or suburbs. In urbani ...
. It is one of two incorporated cities in Livingston County and incorporates land that was part of
Brighton
Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
,
Green Oak, and
Genoa
Genoa ( ; ; ) is a city in and the capital of the Italian region of Liguria, and the sixth-largest city in Italy. As of 2025, 563,947 people live within the city's administrative limits. While its metropolitan city has 818,651 inhabitan ...
townships.
History
Brighton was established in 1832. It was incorporated as a village in 1867 and as a city in 1928.
Geography
Topography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.
Transportation
Major Thoroughfares
*
*
*
Grand River Avenue
Rail
*
CSXT
Climate
Brighton exhibits what is known as a
continental climate
Continental climates often have a significant annual variation in temperature (warm to hot summers and cold winters). They tend to occur in central and eastern parts of the three northern-tier continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), typi ...
biome
A biome () is a distinct geographical region with specific climate, vegetation, and animal life. It consists of a biological community that has formed in response to its physical environment and regional climate. In 1935, Tansley added the ...
. Within the heart of the
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...
region, Brighton weather ranges from warm summers with occasional thunderstorms to cold, dry winters with moderate to heavy snowfall.
Demographics
The city's median household income in 2009 was $47,668, and the median family income was $77,105. Males had a median income of $48,554 versus $30,877 for females. The city's per capita income 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. About 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over in the 2000 census.
2010 census
At the
2010 census the city had 7,444 people, 3,603 households, and 1,811 families. The population density was . There were 3,905 housing units at an average density of . The city's racial makeup 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%.
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 households were one person and 19.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.81.
The median age was 43.4 years. 19% of the city's population was under age 18; 7.1% was between age 18 and 24; 26% was from age 25 to 44; 26.1% was from 45 to 64, and 21.7% were age 65 or older. The city's gender makeup was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.
2000 census
At the
2000 census the city had 6,701 people, 3,103 households, and 1,746 families. The population density was . There were 3,241 housing units at an average density of . The city's racial makeup 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%.
There were 3,103 households, 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 households were one person and 15.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.87.
21.7% of the city's population was under age 18, 8.5% was from age 18 to 24, 31.9% was from age 25 to 44, 21.4% was from age 45 to 64, and 16.6% was age 65 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.
Government
The city of Brighton's wastewater treatment plant facility is in Hamburg Township and services the city of Brighton and parts of Genoa, Brighton, and Hamburg townships. The city's two water plants also serve 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 serves the Townships of Brighton and Genoa.
Library services for the city are provided through a separate governmental entity called the Brighton District Library, which also serves the townships of Brighton, Genoa, and Green Oak.
Recreation services for the city are provided through a separate governmental entity called the Southeastern Livingston County Recreation Authority, which also serves the townships of Brighton, Genoa, and Green Oak, as well as the Brighton Area Schools.
Business district
Though small, Brighton has many local businesses. Its major business districts are downtown and on either side of town. Brighton has two major shopping malls:
Brighton Mall on the north side of town off of
I-96 Exit 145 is a former enclosed mall that 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, ''
Decision Pending'', purchased as part of the 2006 Brighton Biennial, generated some controversy and an unsuccessful campaign to relocate it.
Notable people
*
Tim Alberta, journalist and author
*
Aaron Dilloway, experimental musician and owner of
Hanson Records
*
Harold Falls (1909–2006), ophthalmologic geneticist, died in Brighton
*
Drew Henson, quarterback for the
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
,
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
,
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
, and
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
; attended
Brighton High School
*
Jonathon Merrill, defenseman for NHL's
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
; was raised in Brighton
* Kyle Schultz, founder of
MLW Wiffleball
*
Mickey Stanley, center fielder for the
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
;
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
champion (
1968
Events January–February
* January 1968, January – The I'm Backing Britain, I'm Backing Britain campaign starts spontaneously.
* January 5 – Prague Spring: Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Cze ...
); lives in Brighton
*
Morgan Trent, cornerback for the
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
,
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...
,
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team ...
, and
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...
; lived in Brighton
Gallery
Image: Downtown_Brighton_Michigan_Main_Street.JPG, Downtown Brighton, Main St.
Image:Old_Town_Hall_Brighton_Michigan.JPG , Old Town Hall
Image: Old_Town_Hall_Historic_Marker_Brighton.JPG, Old Town Hall historical marker
Image:Saint_Paul's_Episcopal_Church_Brighton_Michigan.JPG , St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Image: Saint Paul's Episcopal Church Historical Marker Brighton Michigan.JPG, St. Paul's Episcopal Church historical marker
Image: Brighton_Michigan_Millpond_Park.JPG, The millpond with the "Tridge" in view.
Image:Bob_Sculpture_Brighton_Michigan.JPG, "Bob" sculpture, Main St. & Grand River Ave.
Image:Brighton_High_School_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts.JPG, Brighton High School's Auditorium and Cafeteria
Education
Brighton Area Schools has two middle schools—Scranton and Maltby—
a high school, and four elementary schools.
There are about 500 people per graduating class. There is one private high school, Livingston Christian High School. There are four private elementary and middle schools: Cornerstone Church And School, Holy Sprit Academy, and Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran School. There are two charter Schools, Charyl Stockwell Academy Middle School and Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy High School (the elementary school is in nearby
Hartland, Michigan).
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Cities in Livingston County, Michigan
Populated places established in 1832
1832 establishments in Michigan Territory