Brighton, Vermont
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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 from the north end of Island Pond to the west. It proceeds towards Charleston
, in a northwesterly direction.
and was part of the migration route of the St. Francis Indians when traveling from Canada to the Atlantic coast.
In 1957, a 67 feet (20.4 m) white spruce was chosen from the town for display as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
.
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.
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.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Essex County
Essex County, Vermont
Essex County is the county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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
Berlin, New Hampshire
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Coos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city's boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest...
, NH
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area
Berlin micropolitan area
The Berlin Micropolitan Statistical Area is the core based statistical area centered on the urban cluster associated with the city Berlin, New Hampshire in the United States...
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, 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
Clyde River (Vermont)
The Clyde River is a tributary of Lake Memphremagog, over long, in northern Vermont in the United States. It is the easternmost of the four major rivers in Orleans County. It is the most powerful of the four within Orleans County, powering several turbines at damsites...
originates in Spectacle Pond, Brighton. It flows from there to Island Pond from the north end of Island Pond to the west. It proceeds towards Charleston
Charleston, Vermont
Charleston is a town in Orleans County, Vermont, United States. The population was 895 at the 2000 census. The town contains three unincorporated villages: Charleston, East Charleston and West Charleston.-Town:* Selectman - Tom Jensen...
, 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.History
Spectacle Pond apparently was the site of the council fires of the Iroquois Five NationsIroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
and was part of the migration route of the St. Francis Indians when traveling from Canada to the Atlantic coast.
In 1957, a 67 feet (20.4 m) white spruce was chosen from the town for display as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a large Christmas tree placed annually in Rockefeller Center in mid-town Manhattan in New York City. The tree is erected and lit in late November or early December. In recent years, the lighting has been broadcast live nationwide on NBC's Christmas in...
.
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 1,260 people, 529 households, and 356 families residing in the town. 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 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
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 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
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...
or civil union
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
, 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.
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 incomePer 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 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.