LaDawn Westbrook

Brighton will always have its own authentic sense of place. It retains traces of its earliest pioneers - Japanese and Hispanic settlers - as well as the farmers, rail barons and retail pioneers who envisioned a little city in this valley on the plains.

Today, its historic downtown is being reborn to provide the backbone for residents and entrepreneurs yet to come. The rich remnants of Brighton's agricultural heritage are being braided into lively new neighborhoods that contain the kinds of stores and services city dwellers demand. And there's much more in store for newcomers who discover the small-town friendliness and easy way of life in this city on the move.