Brighton, Alabama
Encyclopedia
Brighton is a city near Birmingham, Alabama
, United States
and located just east of Hueytown
. At the 2000 census the population was 3,640. It is one of four cities in Jefferson County named after cities in Great Britain. Many of its early settlers were of English descent and named the town after the English tourist and resort city of Brighton which is located on the English Channel.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,640 people, 1,413 households, and 921 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,599.1 people per square mile (1,003.9/km2). There were 1,636 housing units at an average density of 1,168.2 per square mile (451.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 9.01% White
, 89.12% Black
or African American
, 0.38% Native American
, 0.03% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.88% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.73% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 1,413 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.9% were married couples
living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,364, and the median income for a family was $27,926. Males had a median income of $24,018 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,002. About 20.2% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
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.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and located just east of Hueytown
Hueytown, Alabama
Hueytown is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 16,105.It was the home of the legendary NASCAR Alabama Gang...
. At the 2000 census the population was 3,640. It is one of four cities in Jefferson County named after cities in Great Britain. Many of its early settlers were of English descent and named the town after the English tourist and resort city of Brighton which is located on the English Channel.
Geography
Brighton is located at 33.438958°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 of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,640 people, 1,413 households, and 921 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,599.1 people per square mile (1,003.9/km2). There were 1,636 housing units at an average density of 1,168.2 per square mile (451.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 9.01% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 89.12% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.38% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.88% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.73% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 1,413 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 29.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,364, and the median income for a family was $27,926. Males had a median income of $24,018 versus $20,192 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,002. About 20.2% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.3% of those under age 18 and 20.3% of those age 65 or over.
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 G. B. Edwards, subdivided a tract of land and sold lots at affordable prices on easy terms. The Old Huntsville Road became Main Street and the city was incorporated in 1901. The town had a population of 500 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
Woodward Iron Company
The Woodward Iron Company was founded on December 31, 1881, by two brothers, William & Joseph Woodward. William was the company president and Joseph was the company secretary. The company operated mines, quarries and furnaces that were connected by a private industrial railroad in Bessemer,...
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.