Brighton, Vermont

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Brighton, Vermont
Town
village of Island Pond in Brighton
village of Island Pond in Brighton
Located in Essex County, Vermont
Located in Essex County, Vermont
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Location of Vermont with the U.S.A.
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country United States
State Vermont
County Essex
Chartered 1781
Settled 1824
Organized 1832
Government
 • Type New England town
Area
 • Total 53.4 sq mi (138.3 km2)
 • Land 52.2 sq mi (135.2 km2)
 • Water 1.2 sq mi (3.2 km2)
Elevation 1,280 ft (365 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 1,260
 • Density 24.1/sq mi (9.3/km2)
 • Households 529
 • Families 356
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 05846
Area code(s) 802
FIPS code 50-08725[1]
GNIS feature ID 1462052[2]
Website Brighton town website

Brighton is a town in Essex County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,260 at the 2000 census. The town was named Gilead in its original grant in 1780. The town was sold to a group consisting primarily of soldiers commanded by Colonel Joseph Nightingale and subsequently named Random. The town's name was finally changed by the legislature to Brighton in 1832. The Brighton village of Island Pond gets its name from the Abenaki word Menanbawk which literally means island pond.

Brighton is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 53.4 square miles (138.4 km2), of which 52.2 square miles (135.2 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2) (2.28%) is water.

The Clyde River originates in Spectacle Pond, Brighton. It flows from there to Island Pond[3][4] from the north end of Island Pond to the west. It proceeds towards Charleston, in a northwesterly direction.

Geology

Spectacle Pond is actually a kettle. It is only 8 to 10 feet deep with a thick bottom of muck.[5]

History

In 1957, a 67 feet (20 m) white spruce was chosen from the town for display as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.[6]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1810 144
1830 105
1840 157 49.5%
1850 193 22.9%
1860 945 389.6%
1870 1,535 62.4%
1880 1,691 10.2%
1890 2,020 19.5%
1900 2,023 0.1%
1910 2,013 −0.5%
1920 2,280 13.3%
1930 2,002 −12.2%
1940 1,754 −12.4%
1950 1,671 −4.7%
1960 1,545 −7.5%
1970 1,365 −11.7%
1980 1,557 14.1%
1990 1,562 0.3%
2000 1,260 −19.3%
2010 1,222 −3.0%
Est. 2014 1,182 [7] −3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 1,260 people, 529 households, and 356 families residing in the town. The population density was 24.1 people per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 891 housing units at an average density of 17.1 per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.16% White, 0.16% African American, 1.03% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.

There were 529 households out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were couples living together and joined in either marriage or civil union, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.7% were non-families. 27.6% 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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

Economy

Personal income

The median income for a household in the town was $26,932, and the median income for a family was $31,316. Males had a median income of $26,413 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,999. About 14.9% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.7% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.

Industry

Tourism

The Brighton Snowmobile Club maintains 130 miles of trails during the winter.[9]

Media

WVTI 106.9 broadcasts from Island Pond.[10]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. After which the town of Island Pond is named
  4. The pond was originally called "Knowles Pond" in the 19th century
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links