Editing Brighton, Colorado

{{short description|The home rule city that is the seat of Adams County, Colorado, United States.}}
{{infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                      = Brighton, Colorado
|settlement_type           = [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicMunicipalities.jsf|title=Active Colorado Municipalities|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=February 13, 2025}}</ref>
| motto                    = "What we value today is what we become tomorrow"
| image_skyline            = Brighton, Colorado City Hall.JPG <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_caption            = Brighton City Hall
| image_flag               = Flag of Brighton, Colorado.svg
| flag_size                = 
| image_seal               = 
| seal_size                = 
| image_shield             = 
| shield_size              = 
| image_blank_emblem       = 
| blank_emblem_type        = 
| blank_emblem_size        = 
| image_map                = Adams County and Weld County Colorado Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Brighton Highlighted 0808675.svg
| map_caption              = Location within [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]] and [[Weld County, Colorado|Weld]] counties, Colorado
| image_map1               = 
| map_caption1             = 
<<!-- Pushpin map -->
|pushpin_map             = USA#USA Colorado
|pushpin_relief          = 
|pushpin_label           = Brighton
|pushpin_label_position  = right
|pushpin_map_caption     = Location of the City of Brighton, Colorado.
<!-- Location -->
|coordinates             = {{coord|39.9853|-104.8205|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204736|name=Brighton, Colorado|display=it}}
|coordinates_footnotes   = <ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis|id=204736|name=Brighton, Colorado|access-date=February 2, 2025}}</ref>
|elevation_ft            = 4987
|elevation_footnotes     = <ref name=GNIS/>
|subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name        = [[United States]]
|subdivision_type1       = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1       = [[Colorado]]
|subdivision_type2       = [[List of counties in Colorado|Counties]]
|subdivision_name2       = [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams County seat]] and<br/>[[Weld County, Colorado|Weld County]]<ref name=COcounty>{{cite web|url=https://dola.colorado.gov/dlg_lgis_ui_pu/publicCounties.jsf|title=Colorado Counties|publisher=[[Colorado Department of Local Affairs]]|access-date=February 2, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Colorado municipalities#Home rule municipality|home rule city]]<ref name=COMun/>
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Greg Mills{{cn|date=December 2023}}
| leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
| established_date         = 
| established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2        = September 1, 1887<ref name=MuniIncCO>{{cite web | url = http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/muninc.html | title = Colorado Municipal Incorporations | publisher = [[Colorado|State of Colorado]], Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives | date = December 1, 2004 | access-date = September 2, 2007}}</ref>
| established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3        = 
| named_for                = Brighton Beach, New York
<!-- Area --------------------->
| unit_pref                = US
| total_type               = Total
| area_footnotes           = <ref name=2020_Census>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/rdo/summary-files.html|title=Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Department of Commerce]]|date=August 12, 2021|access-date=September 7, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 55.777
| area_land_km2            = 55.030
| area_water_km2           = 0.747
<!-- Population ----------------------->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = <ref name=2020_Census/>
| population_total         = 40,083
| population_density_sq_mi = 1,887
| population_blank1_title  = [[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area|CSA]]
| population_blank1        = 3,623,560 ([[List of primary statistical areas|17th]])
| population_blank2_title  = [[Front Range Urban Corridor|Front Range]]
| population_blank2        = 5,055,344
<!-- General information ----------------------->
|timezone                = [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]]
|utc_offset              = −07:00
|timezone_DST            = [[Mountain Time Zone|MDT]]
|utc_offset_DST          = −06:00
<!-- Area, postal, and other codes -->
|postal_code_type        = [[ZIP code]]<ref name=ZIPcode>{{cite web|url=https://tools.usps.com/zip-code-lookup.htm?bycitystate|title=ZIP Code Lookup|publisher=[[United States Postal Service]]|access-date=February 2, 2025}}</ref>
|postal_code             = 80601-80603
|area_code_type          = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
|area_code               = [[Area codes 303, 720, and 983|303/720/983]]
|blank_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS pop ID]]
|blank_info              = {{GNIS 4|204736}}
|blank1_name             = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS town ID]]
|blank1_info             = {{GNIS 4|2409911}}
|blank2_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank2_info             = {{FIPS|08|08675}}
|website                 = [https://www.brightonco.gov/ City of Brighton]
}}

'''Brighton''' is a [[List of municipalities in Colorado#Home rule municipality|home rule city]] located in [[Adams County, Colorado|Adams]] and [[Weld County, Colorado|Weld]] counties, [[Colorado]], United States.<ref name=COMun/> Brighton is the [[county seat]] of Adams County and is a part of the [[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area]] and the [[Front Range Urban Corridor]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The city population was 40,083 at the [[2020 United States census]] with 39,718 residing in Adams County and 365 residing in Weld County.<ref name=2020_Census/>

==History==
Brighton was founded as a stage/railroad depot and farming community named Hughes. The Hughes, Colorado Territory, post office opened on April 13, 1871,<ref name=CPO>{{cite book|title=Colorado Post Offices 1859–1989|first1=William H.|last1=Bauer|first2=James L.|last2=Ozment|first3=John H.|last3=Willard|date=1990|publisher=[[Colorado Railroad Museum|Colorado Railroad Historical Foundation]]|location=[[Golden, Colorado]]|isbn=0-918654-42-4}}</ref> Colorado became a state on August 1, 1876,<ref name=Colorado_Statehood_Proclamation>{{cite web |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-230-admission-colorado-into-the-union|title=Proclamation 230—Admission of Colorado into the Union|author=[[Ulysses S. Grant]] |date=August 1, 1876|publisher=The American Presidency Project|access-date=December 24, 2024}}</ref> and the Hughes post office was renamed Brighton on August 4, 1879.<ref name=CPO/> The town was named for [[Brighton Beach]], [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9369| title= Profile for Brighton, Colorado, CO| publisher= ePodunk| access-date= May 7, 2012| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190515080300/http://epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9369| archive-date= May 15, 2019| url-status= dead}}</ref> 

The Town of Brighton was incorporated on September 1, 1887.<ref name=MuniIncCO/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brightonco.gov/egov/docs/1327438192792.htm|title=City of Brighton celebrates 125th Anniversary|publisher=City of Brighton Colorado|access-date=May 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121213013336/http://www.brightonco.gov/egov/docs/1327438192792.htm|archive-date=December 13, 2012}}</ref> Adams County was created on April 15, 1901, with Brighton as its seat.

==Geography==
Brighton is a suburb of [[Denver]] located at coordinates {{coord|39.9853|-104.8205|type:city_region:US-CO_source:GNIS-204736|name=Brighton, Colorado|display=inline}} at an elevation of {{convert|4987|ft}}.<ref name=GNIS/>

At the [[2020 United States census]], the city had a total area of {{convert|55.777|km2|acre|order=flip}}, including {{convert|0.747|km2|acre|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=2020_Census/>

===Climate===
According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Brighton has a [[cold semi-arid climate]], abbreviated ''BSk'' on climate maps.

{{Weather box
|location = Brighton, Colorado, 1991&ndash;2020 normals, extremes 1973&ndash;present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 74
|Feb record high F = 80
|Mar record high F = 82
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 90
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 75

|Jan avg record high F = 65.3
|Feb avg record high F = 67.7
|Mar avg record high F = 76.3
|Apr avg record high F = 82.4
|May avg record high F = 90.5
|Jun avg record high F = 97.8
|Jul avg record high F = 100.5
|Aug avg record high F = 97.8
|Sep avg record high F = 93.8
|Oct avg record high F = 85.1
|Nov avg record high F = 74.2
|Dec avg record high F = 65.5
|year avg record high F = 101.0

|Jan high F = 44.4
|Feb high F = 45.9
|Mar high F = 55.9
|Apr high F = 62.9
|May high F = 71.9
|Jun high F = 84.1
|Jul high F = 90.0
|Aug high F = 87.6
|Sep high F = 79.8
|Oct high F = 65.9
|Nov high F = 53.3
|Dec high F = 44.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 30.2
|Feb mean F = 32.2
|Mar mean F = 41.3
|Apr mean F = 48.4
|May mean F = 57.5
|Jun mean F = 68.3
|Jul mean F = 74.1
|Aug mean F = 72.0
|Sep mean F = 63.6
|Oct mean F = 50.4
|Nov mean F = 39.1
|Dec mean F = 30.2
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 16.1
|Feb low F = 18.5
|Mar low F = 26.7
|Apr low F = 33.9
|May low F = 43.2
|Jun low F = 52.4
|Jul low F = 58.2
|Aug low F = 56.4
|Sep low F = 47.4
|Oct low F = 35.0
|Nov low F = 25.0
|Dec low F = 16.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -5.7
|Feb avg record low F = -2.6
|Mar avg record low F = 9.4
|Apr avg record low F = 20.4
|May avg record low F = 29.8
|Jun avg record low F = 42.7
|Jul avg record low F = 50.9
|Aug avg record low F = 48.5
|Sep avg record low F = 35.1
|Oct avg record low F = 18.9
|Nov avg record low F = 5.4
|Dec avg record low F = -4.7
|year avg record low F = -13.5

|Jan record low F = -23
|Feb record low F = -24
|Mar record low F = -13
|Apr record low F = -8
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 44
|Aug record low F = 41
|Sep record low F = 19
|Oct record low F = 0
|Nov record low F = -14
|Dec record low F = -26

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.42
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.43
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.98
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.77
|May precipitation inch = 2.35
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.41
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.72
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.77
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.18
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.02
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.69
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.37
|year precipitation inch =

|Jan snow inch = 5.2
|Feb snow inch = 5.3
|Mar snow inch = 6.0
|Apr snow inch = 3.1
|May snow inch = 0.5
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.2
|Oct snow inch = 3.2
|Nov snow inch = 5.8
|Dec snow inch = 5.2
|year snow inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.9
|Feb precipitation days = 4.4
|Mar precipitation days = 5.6
|Apr precipitation days = 6.9
|May precipitation days = 8.3
|Jun precipitation days = 6.6
|Jul precipitation days = 6.9
|Aug precipitation days = 6.1
|Sep precipitation days = 5.4
|Oct precipitation days = 4.9
|Nov precipitation days = 4.4
|Dec precipitation days = 3.7

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.8
|Feb snow days = 3.9
|Mar snow days = 3.3
|Apr snow days = 2.1
|May snow days = 0.3
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.2
|Oct snow days = 1.1
|Nov snow days = 3.1
|Dec snow days = 3.9

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00050950&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access
|access-date = August 8, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=bou
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data
|access-date = August 8, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| align = left
| 1890 = 306
| 1900 = 366
| 1910 = 850
| 1920 = 2715
| 1930 = 3394
| 1940 = 4029
| 1950 = 4336
| 1960 = 7055
| 1970 = 8309
| 1980 = 12773
| 1990 = 14203
| 2000 = 20905
| 2010 = 33352
| 2020 = 40083
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 42477
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| footnote = [[United States census|U.S. Decennial Census]]
}}
As of the census<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 20,905 people, 6,718 households, and 5,058 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,224.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,990 housing units at an average density of {{convert|409.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 76.91% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.99% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.47% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 16.29% from [[Race (United States census)|other races]], and 3.20% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 38.22% of the population.

There were 6,718 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 28.6% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,779, and the median income for a family was $53,286. Males had a median income of $35,686 versus $27,103 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,927. About 6.1% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.0% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Brighton is the home of two [[Vestas]] manufacturing plants, a [[wind turbine]] blade factory and a [[Nacelle (wind turbine)|nacelle]] manufacturing plant. The factories are valued at $290 million and will provide 1,350 employment opportunities: 650 in the blade factory and another 700 in the nacelle manufacturing plant. Groundbreaking for the factories took place on March 25, 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/03/23/daily35.html | title=Vestas breaks ground on Colorado wind-turbine plants | date=March 25, 2009}}</ref>

The Prairie Center is a {{convert|396|acre|km2|adj=on}} shopping center with a pedestrian-oriented retail village.

The Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau began helping small businesses in the Brighton community in 1955, paving the way for the expansion of Brighton retail, and manufacturing. The Brighton Chamber helped to secure Brighton as an Agritourism destination within the Denver Metro area for Farm Fresh Produce and opening the Brighton Visitors Center in May 2020. The Greater Brighton Chamber of Commerce is ranked the 14th Best Chamber in the Denver area per the Denver Business Journal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Ethan |date=June 19, 2020 |title=2020 Denver-area chambers of commerce and economic development organizations |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/subscriber-only/2020/06/19/2020-denver-area-chambers-of-commerce.html |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=BizJournals.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brightonchamber.com/about-us|title = About Us - Brighton Chamber of Commerce, CO}}</ref>

==Education==
[[School District 27J]] serves the community.

==Notable people==
Notable individuals who were born in or have lived in Brighton include:
* [[Todd Helton]] (born 1973), baseball 1st baseman<ref>{{cite news | last = Saunders | first = Patrick | title = Former Rockies great Todd Helton content in first year away from game | newspaper = The Denver Post | date = August 17, 2014 | url = http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_26351137/former-rockies-great-todd-helton-content-first-year | access-date = May 2, 2016}}</ref>
* [[John L. Kane Jr.]] (born 1937), U.S. federal judge<ref>{{cite web | title = Kane, John L. Jr. | work = Biographical Directory of Federal Judges | publisher = Federal Judicial Center | url = http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/nGetInfo?jid=1224&cid=999&ctype=na&instate=na | access-date = May 2, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Richard Ling]]  (born 1954), Shaw Foundation Professor of Media Technology at [[Nanyang Technological University]]
* Max Pfeffer, Senior Associate Dean of the [[Cornell University]] College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
* [[Dillon Serna]] (born 1994), soccer midfielder<ref>{{cite web | title = Dillon Serna | publisher = Major League Soccer | url = http://www.mlssoccer.com/players/dillon-serna | access-date = May 2, 2016}}</ref>
* [[Brian Shaw (strongman)|Brian Shaw]], leading American strongman
* [[Angie Zapata]] (1989–2008), murder victim<ref>{{cite magazine | last = Asmar | first = Melanie | title = Who was Angie Zapata? Her murderer's trial didn't tell the whole story. | magazine = Westword | date = May 28, 2009 | url = http://www.westword.com/news/who-was-angie-zapata-her-murderers-trial-didnt-tell-the-whole-story-5103955 | access-date = May 2, 2016}}</ref>

==Sister city==
Brighton has a [[town twinning|sister city]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
* {{flagdeco|Poland}} [[Ziębice]], [[Lower Silesian Voivodeship]], Poland

==See also==
{{portal|Geography|History|United States|Colorado}}
*[[Denver-Aurora, CO Combined Statistical Area]]
*[[Front Range Urban Corridor]]
*[[Kitayama Carnation Strike]]
*[[List of county seats in Colorado]]
*[[List of municipalities in Colorado]]
*[[List of populated places in Colorado]]
*[[List of post offices in Colorado]]
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=yes}}
*[http://www.brightonco.gov City of Brighton]
*[https://www.colorado.gov/ State of Colorado]
**[http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/BRIGHTON.pdf CDOT map of the City of Brighton]
**[https://www.historycolorado.org/ History Colorado]
{{Adams County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Weld County, Colorado|collapse_state=expanded}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Colorado county seats}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Adams County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Weld County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Cities in Colorado]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in Colorado]]
[[Category:County seats in Colorado]]
[[Category:Denver metropolitan area]]