Brighton, Ontario

Brighton
Municipality (lower-tier)
Municipality of Brighton
Motto:  Where the past greets the future
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Northumberland
Formed	January 1, 2001
Government
• Mayor	Mark Walas
• Federal riding	Northumberland—Quinte West
• Prov. riding	Northumberland—Quinte West
Area
• Land	222.76 km2 (86.01 sq mi)
Population  (2011)
• Total	10,928
• Density	49.1/km2 (127/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code	K0K 1H0
Area code	613
Website	www.brighton.ca

Post Office

Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, 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 was 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 nearly 11,000 inhabitants, 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. Many small hamlets surround the town, including Codrington, Carman, Hilton, Spring Valley and Smithfield.

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, just south of the town centre, is one of Brighton's most popular attractions. The park is noted for birdwatching and other nature-oriented activities.

Founding

The village of Brighton was incorporated on January 1, 1859. On December 1, 1980, it became a town.

The original Simpson house, is located on 61 Simpson Street, over 150 years old.

The artificial island area of Brighton

Part 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

Canada census – Brighton, Ontario community profile

	2011
Population	10,928 (6.6% from 2006)
Land area	222.76 km2 (86.01 sq mi)
Population density	49.1/km2 (127/sq mi)
Median age
Private dwellings	4825 (total)
Median household income

References: 2011 earlier

Population trend:

• Population in 2011: 10,928
• Population in 2006: 10,253
• Population in 2001: 9,449
• Population in 1996:
  • Brighton (town): 4584
  • Brighton (township): 4438
• Population in 1991:
  • Brighton (town): 4366
  • Brighton (township): 4115

Mother tongue:

• English as first language: 92.2%
• French as first language: 2.0%
• English and French as first language: 0%
• Other as first language: 5.8%

Notable residents

• 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.

See also

• List of townships in Ontario

External links

• Official website
• Brighton Health Services Centre
• Northumberland Tourism