Brighton, Ontario

Brighton
Municipality of Brighton
Motto: 
Where the past greets the future
Brighton is located in Northumberland County
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is located in Southern Ontario
Brighton
Brighton
Coordinates: 44°01′51″N 77°43′23″W / 44.03083°N 77.72306°W / 44.03083; -77.72306[1]
CountryCanada
ProvinceOntario
CountyNorthumberland
FormedJanuary 1, 2001
Government
 • MayorBrian Ostrander
 • Federal ridingNorthumberland—Quinte West
 • Prov. ridingNorthumberland—Quinte West
Area
 • Land222.71 km2 (85.99 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[3]
 • Total12,108
 • Density54.2/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal Code
K0K 1H0
Area code613
Websitewww.brighton.ca
Post office

Brighton is a town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada,[1] approximately 150 kilometres (93 mi) east of Toronto and 100 km (62 mi) 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.

Brighton later developed into primarily 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. In late September, Brighton is host to Applefest, its largest yearly festival.

The Municipality of Brighton (formed on January 1, 2001, through an amalgamation of the former Town of Brighton and Brighton Township) is home to over 12,108 inhabitants,[4] with a higher than average percentage of those retired. This is common, as the quiet, clean and friendly atmosphere of many smaller towns near Lake Ontario tend to draw the elderly as popular places for retirement living.

Presqu'ile Provincial Park, just south of the town centre, is one of Brighton's most popular attractions. The park is noted 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.

  1. ^ a b "Brighton". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2013-04-21.
  2. ^ "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Brighton, Municipality". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Census Profile, 2021 Census: Brighton, Municipality". Statistics Canada. 8 February 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  4. ^ Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (2022-02-09). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Brighton, Municipality (MU) [Census subdivision], Ontario". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-26.