Brighton, Ontario
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Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada,<ref name="CGNDB" /> approximately Template:Convert east of Toronto and Template:Convert 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.
It is home to over 12,108 inhabitants,<ref name="SCref21"/> with a higher than average percentage of those retired.
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, just south of the town centre, is one of Brighton's most popular attractions. The park is notable 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. In late September, Brighton is host to Applefest, its largest yearly festival.
Geography
Communities
Besides the town proper of Brighton, the municipality of Brighton comprises a number of villages and hamlets, including the following communities:
- Carman
- Codrington
- Hilton
- Spring Valley
- Smithfield (partially)
- Butler Creek
- Cankerville
- Cedar Creek
- Gosport
- Orland
- Presqui'le Point
- Wade Corners
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 Isthmus of Murray. The Murray Canal opened in 1889.
History
Brighton was incorporated as a village on January 1, 1859. On December 1, 1980, it became a town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The original Simpson house, at 61 Simpson Street, was built in 1850.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Brighton developed primarily into 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.
On January 1, 2001, the current Municipality of Brighton was formed through an amalgamation of the former Town of Brighton and Brighton Township.<ref name=restruct>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Brighton had a population of Template:Val living in Template:Val of its Template:Val total private dwellings, a change of Template:Percentage from its 2016 population of Template:Val. With a land area of Template:Convert, it had a population density of Template:Pop density in 2021.<ref name="SCref21"/> Template:Canada census
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Media
- Brighton Independent (Metroland Media Group)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Oldies 100.9 (My Broadcasting)
- Edville Gazette (Independently Published)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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
References
External links
Template:Geographic location Template:Northumberland County, Ontario Template:Authority control