Brighton, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brighton
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Location of Brighton in Jefferson County, Alabama.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Jefferson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.42 sq mi (3.66 km2) |
| • Land | 1.42 sq mi (3.66 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 515 ft (157 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,337 |
| • Density | 1,651.59/sq mi (637.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
35020
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| Area code(s) | 205 & 659 |
| FIPS code | 01-09400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2403925 |
Brighton is a city near Birmingham, Alabama, United States and located just east of Hueytown. At the 2020 census, the population was 2,337. It is part of the Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in 2010 had a population of about 1,128,047, approximately one-quarter of Alabama's population.
It is one of four cities in Jefferson County named after cities in Great Britain. Many of the city's early settlers were of English descent; they named the town after the English tourist and resort city of Brighton, which is located on the English Channel.
Geography
Brighton is located at 33°26′20″N 86°56′44″W / 33.438958°N 86.945442°W.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), all land.
History
By 1901, at least 100 families were living in Brighton, which was along a dummy railroad line built in 1889 by the Bessemer & Birmingham Railroad Company to connect those two cities. The city really started in 1892, when developer G.B. Edwards subdivided a tract of land and sold lots. The Old Huntsville Road became Main Street and the city was incorporated in 1901. The town had a population of 1,502 by the 1910 Census, with seventeen commercial establishments including eight grocery stores.
The city's fortunes have always been closely linked to those of Woodward Iron Company and when that industry moved out, the town rapidly declined. The graves of many early settlers of Scottish, English and German descent who came to work at Woodward can be found in Brighton Cemetery which still operates today.
In 1908, coal miner William Miller, who was black, was accused of blowing up the home of a mine operator. Miller was killed before white men would later be convicted of the crime. A mob dragged Miller out of the Brighton jail and killed him not far from Brighton City Hall where his historical marker now stands.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,502 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,665 | 144.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,708 | −53.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,377 | −19.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,689 | 22.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,884 | 70.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,277 | −21.0% | |
| 1980 | 5,308 | 133.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,518 | −14.9% | |
| 2000 | 3,640 | −19.4% | |
| 2010 | 2,945 | −19.1% | |
| 2020 | 2,337 | −20.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2013 Estimate |
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2020 census
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
|---|---|---|
| White (non-Hispanic) | 81 | 3.47% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 1,805 | 77.24% |
| Native American | 3 | 0.13% |
| Asian | 5 | 0.21% |
| Pacific Islander | 1 | 0.05% |
| Other/Mixed | 45 | 1.93% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 398 | 17.03% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,337 people, 1,180 households, and 519 families residing in the city.
2010 census
At the 2010 census, there were 2,945 people, 1,105 households, and 696 families living in the city. The population density was 789.3 people per square mile (818.1/km2). There were 1,360 housing units at an average density of 971.4 per square mile (377.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 81.0% Black or African American, 6.5% White, 1.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 10.8% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. 13.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 1,105 households 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.6% were married couples living together, 31.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 32.8% of households were one person and 12.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.39.
The age distribution was 22.8% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.
The median household income was $25,929 and the median family income was $31,472. Males had a median income of $20,838 versus $28,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,858. About 14.1% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.6% of those under age 18 and 21.9% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Charles Avery (1892–1974), blues and boogie-woogie pianist
- Parnell Dickinson, former professional football player
- Albert Hall, stage, TV and film actor
- Henry Panion, music director for Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, and the Winans
- Josephus C. Vines, mayor of Brighton
- Dennis Weatherby, inventor, scientist, and university administrator
See also
In Spanish: Brighton (Alabama) para niños
