Brighton, Tennessee
Encyclopedia
Brighton is a town in Tipton County
, Tennessee
, United States
. The population was 1,719 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land.
The new town grew quickly. By the late 1870s, Brighton had two dry goods stores, three grocery stores, two saloons, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one brick yard, one steam saw and grist mill, one steam cotton gin, a Baptist church, two physicians, and a population around 100.
In 1883, the veterans of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate States of America made Brighton the permanent site of their annual reunion. At Brighton the veterans reunion took on new dimensions and it grew into a reunion of all Confederate veterans of Tipton County and the surrounding region. Over the years, attendance of this annual August event grew peeking at 15,000 in 1897. The Tipton County Confederate Veterans Reunion, as it became to be known, continued to be held at Brighton until 1940.
Brighton was incorporated by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1913 and the town today continues to operate under the same charter.
History Courtesy of Russell Bailey, Tipton County Historian
of 2000, there were 1,719 people, 596 households, and 470 families residing in the town. The population density
was 627.8 people per square mile (242.2/km²). There were 628 housing units at an average density of 229.3 per square mile (88.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.20% White, 20.65% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.23% from other races
, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.
There were 596 households out of which 49.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples
living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 36.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 13.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,510, and the median income for a family was $46,538. Males had a median income of $36,012 versus $25,789 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,432. About 7.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Tipton County, Tennessee
Tipton County is a county located on the western end of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 51,271. Its county seat is Covington. Tipton County is part of the Memphis, TN–MS–AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, centered on Shelby County, which borders Tipton on...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,719 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Brighton is located at 35°28′58"N 89°43′25"W (35.482847, -89.723563).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 2.7 square miles (7 km²), all of it land.
History
Brighton was established in the year 1873 along the newly completed tracts of the Memphis and Paducah Railroad upon the lands of A. W. Smith, Sr. who gave the initial five acres for the Depot grounds. The new town was named for Mr. Bright, the first conductor on the Memphis Division of the said road.The new town grew quickly. By the late 1870s, Brighton had two dry goods stores, three grocery stores, two saloons, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one brick yard, one steam saw and grist mill, one steam cotton gin, a Baptist church, two physicians, and a population around 100.
In 1883, the veterans of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry, Confederate States of America made Brighton the permanent site of their annual reunion. At Brighton the veterans reunion took on new dimensions and it grew into a reunion of all Confederate veterans of Tipton County and the surrounding region. Over the years, attendance of this annual August event grew peeking at 15,000 in 1897. The Tipton County Confederate Veterans Reunion, as it became to be known, continued to be held at Brighton until 1940.
Brighton was incorporated by the Tennessee General Assembly in 1913 and the town today continues to operate under the same charter.
History Courtesy of Russell Bailey, Tipton County Historian
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 1,719 people, 596 households, and 470 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 627.8 people per square mile (242.2/km²). There were 628 housing units at an average density of 229.3 per square mile (88.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.20% White, 20.65% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.23% 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 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.34% of the population.
There were 596 households out of which 49.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% 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, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.1% were non-families. 18.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the town the population was spread out with 36.2% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 13.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,510, and the median income for a family was $46,538. Males had a median income of $36,012 versus $25,789 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 town was $15,432. About 7.8% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.