Brighton, Marathon County, Wisconsin

Brighton is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 620 at the 2020 census.

Brighton, Wisconsin
Town
Beef cattle and a dairy farm. Much of Brighton's terrain is flattish, like this.
Location of Brighton, Wisconsin
Coordinates: 44°49′7″N 90°16′11″W
Country	United States
State	Wisconsin
County	Marathon
Area
• Total	34.2 sq mi (88.7 km2)
• Land	34.2 sq mi (88.6 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	1,309 ft (399 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	612
• Density	18/sq mi (6.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	715 & 534
FIPS code	55-09650
GNIS feature ID	1582858
PLSS township	T27N R2E

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.2 square miles (88.7 km²), of which 34.2 square miles (88.6 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²), or 0.06%, is water.

History

The six mile square that would become Brighton was first surveyed in September of 1851 by a crew working for the U.S. government. In December 1853 and January 1854 another crew marked its section corners, walking through the woods and wading the streams, measuring with chain and compass. When done, the deputy surveyor filed this general description:

This Township contains but few swamps. The land being generally good 2nd(?) Rate quality. The surface generally level. There are but few streams in this Township. The streams are all lined with Alder, and in many places would make good meadows(?). The Prevailing(?) Timber is Hemlock. The Pine is of Poor quality and scattering.

Demographics

At the 2000 census, there were 611 people, 197 households and 159 families residing in the town. The population density was 17.9 per square mile (6.9/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 6.0 per square mile (2.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.89% White, 2.29% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 197 households, of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.6% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 13.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.10 and the average family size was 3.46.

32.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 122.2 males.

The median household income was $80,833 and 76.8% of Brighton's population is employed according to the 2022 American Community Survey. 10.7% are Local, state, and federal government workers in Marathon County, Wisconsin.

Notable people

• William McNeight, Wisconsin farmer and legislator, was born in the town