Brighton, Michigan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Brighton, Michigan
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Brighton, Michigan


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Michigan
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Livingston

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 9.6
area_land_km2 = 9.3
area_water_km2 = 0.3
area_total_sq_mi = 3.7
area_land_sq_mi = 3.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6701
population_density_km2 = 717.0
population_density_sq_mi = 1857.0

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 282
elevation_ft = 925
latd = 42 |latm = 31 |lats = 36 |latNS = N
longd = 83 |longm = 47 |longs = 2 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 48114, 48116
area_code = 810
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 26-10620GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0621987GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Brighton is a city in Livingston County, the fastest growing county in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,701, while the 2006 estimate places the population at 7,263. The city is part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area. Brighton is one of two incorporated cities in Livingston County, and incorporates land that once part of Brighton Township, Green Oak Township, and Genoa Township.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.7 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.22%) is water. Having I-96 and US 23 intersect in Brighton allows its residents the ability to travel over Southeast Michigan with ease. Brighton is central to a many larger areas which is a great advantage to its residents.

Time from Brighton to:
* Ann Arbor -- 25 minutes
* Birmingham/Troy/Bloomfield Hills -- 30 minutes
* Detroit -- 51 minutes
* Farmington Hills -- 31 minutes
* Flint -- 45 minutes
* Howell -- 10 minutes
* Jackson -- 55 minutes
* Lansing -- 45 minutes
* Novi -- 25 minutes
* Windsor -- 55 minutes

Major highways

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (346.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.61% White, 0.34% African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 0.93% 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.

The median income for a household in the city was $47,897, and the median income for a family was $62,222. Males had a median income of $48,554 versus $30,877 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,393. While Brighton proper may not reflect it, Brighton's surrounding townships and communities of some 60,000 people have median household incomes in excess of $80,000, making it one of the 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.

A majority of Livingston County and the areas neighboring it in Ingham County and Shiawasse County tend to be conservative voters. There is a saying among local republican politics which states, "If I cannot get elected in here, then I will quit politics all together."--Joe Hune

Education

The Brighton Area Schools System is a collection of nationally and state-recognized institutions of excellence. They are annually ranked as some of the best places in the State of Michigan and Brighton High School is a repeating contender for a spot on the list of the 1000 best high schools in the country by Newsweek for their environment and quality of education. The schools comprising the Brighton Area School District and the locations they serve are as follows:

Establishments served by the Brighton Area Schools (all and parts of)
* Brighton
* Howell
* South Lyon

* Brighton Township
* Genoa Township
* Green Oak Township
* Hamburg Township
* Howell Township
* Pinckney VillageElementary
* Hilton
* Hornung
* Hawkins
* Spencer
* Lindbom
* Miller Early Childhood CenterMiddle
* Maltby
* ScrantonHigh
* BrightonAdditional Schools Serving Brighton Residents
* Charyl Stockwell Academy [http://www.csaschool.org/site/index.asp] - Public Charter School
* St. Patrick Elementary and Middle School (Catholic)
* Maple Tree Montessori Academy
* Shepherd of the Lakes Lutheran Preschool to Fifth Grade
* Cornerstone Christian School
* Tri-Lakes Baptist SchoolSatellites 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.

Downtown and business

Brighton is the commercial hub for its surrounding townships in Livingston County. Most of the jobs in the actual downtown are commercial services, however, when you get to the city borders there is some industry. With the addition of new restaurants and bars and a revamping of a major upscale jeweler, Downtown Brighton is establishing itself as the new destination place for southeast Livingston County.Fact|date=July 2008

Downtown is considered to be located at the intersection of Main Street and Grand River Avenue. The setting there is in line with Brighton's core values as a family-oriented place and its love for parks. The heart of downtown contains the Millpond and The Imagination Station. The Millpond regularly holds concerts in the summer that are frequently huge successes.Fact|date=July 2008 Across the Millpond is the Imagination Station which is a giant wooden playstructure complex for children of all ages. Right next to these two is an array of restaurants and other eateries. These include Ciao Amicis (Italian), Stillwater (Classic American Grill) and The Yum Yum Tree (ice cream and Sweets).

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, Michigan.

In "Aspen Extreme" the movie begins in Brighton, Michigan 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 producers decided to have the official premier in a town called 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 residents

* George W. Romney - Buried at Brighton's Fairview Cemetery. Republican. Board chairman and president, American Motors,; delegate to Michigan state constitutional convention from 12th Senatorial District,; Governor of Michigan,; resigned 1969; delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1964; candidate for Republican nomination for President, 1968; U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,; member of Wayne State University board of governors,.
* 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, he is currently on the Minnesota Vikings as a 3rd string quarterback
* Denny McLain - Star pitcher for the 1968 World Series Champion Detroit Tigers, and 1968 Cy Young award winner resides in the Brighton area (Pinckney).
* Mickey Stanley - Very popular outfielder for the Detroit 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".
* Matthew Lillard - Lived in Brighton for a brief time from 4th grade until Junior year of high school whereafter he moved to California to begin his film acting career.
* Barry Blazs is one of the top selling Christian Musicians of all time with his band "Code of Ethics" with singles reaching number one on the Christian Charts numerous times.

References

External links

* [http://www.brightoncity.org Brighton city web site]
* [http://www.focusbrighton.com FocusBRIGHTON Community Web site]
* [http://www.whmi.com WHMI 93.5 FM web site]
* [http://www.livingstondaily.com Daily Press & Argus, the local newspaper]
* [http://www.detnews.com/livingston The Detroit News- Livingston County]
* [http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?livingston_archive Ann Arbor News - Livingston County]
* [http://www.skimichigan.com/mtbrighton Mt.Brighton Skiing]
* [http://www.brightonfootballphotos.com Brighton Football Photos]
* [http://www.livingstonsportsphotos.com/brighton_michigan.htm Brighton Sports Photos]
* [http://www.brightonareafire.com Brighton Area Fire Department]