Brimley is an unincorporated community.It is situated where the Waiska Riverflows into Whitefish Bay on Lake Superior. M-221 is a short spur route connecting Brimley with M-28,3 miles (5 km) to the south. The Bay Mills Indian Community owns land nearby, and Brimley is part of a tax-agreement area with the tribe. The community was founded by European Americans in 1887 as Superior; it was renamed in 1896 for a local postal official to avoid confusion with a station in Minnesota on the same railroad line that was also named Superior. Bay Mills Community College, a tribal college, is located in Brimley.