Pepperell, Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
- For the census-designated placeCensus-designated placeA census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
Pepperell, please see the article Pepperell (CDP)Pepperell (CDP), MassachusettsPepperell is a census-designated place in the town of Pepperell in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,517 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pepperell is located at ....
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
.
Pepperell is a town in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 11,497 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell
East Pepperell, Massachusetts
East Pepperell is a census-designated place in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,034 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Pepperell is located at ....
.
History
Pepperell was first settled in 1720 as a part of GrotonGroton, Massachusetts
Groton is a town located in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 10,646 at the 2010 census. It is home to two noted prep schools: Groton School, founded in 1884, and Lawrence Academy at Groton, founded in 1793. The historic town hosts the National Shepley Hill Horse...
, and was officially set off and incorporated in 1775. The founders named the town after Sir William Pepperell. It was noted for its good soil and orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s. By 1837, when the population was 1,586, Pepperell had three paper mill
Paper mill
A paper mill is a factory devoted to making paper from vegetable fibres such as wood pulp, old rags and other ingredients using a Fourdrinier machine or other type of paper machine.- History :...
s. It also produced palm leaf hat
Hat
A hat is a head covering. It can be worn for protection against the elements, for ceremonial or religious reasons, for safety, or as a fashion accessory. In the past, hats were an indicator of social status...
s, boot
Boot
A boot is a type of footwear but they are not shoes. Most boots mainly cover the foot and the ankle and extend up the leg, sometimes as far as the knee or even the hip. Most boots have a heel that is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the sole, even if the two are made of one piece....
s and shoes
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
.
The well-known Chester H. Waterous Bridge was, until recently, the only covered bridge
Covered bridge
A covered bridge is a bridge with enclosed sides and a roof, often accommodating only a single lane of traffic. Most covered bridges are wooden; some newer ones are concrete or metal with glass sides...
in the state still open to vehicular traffic. The bridge was closed to vehicles on April 7, 2008 and demolition began on July 30, 2008. For two years a new covered bridge was constructed, which opened July 30, 2010.
On June 29, 2009 the people of Pepperell voted yes on a Proposition 2½ override, effectively saving operations of the Lawrence Library, Senior Center, and Community Center. The override helped fill a $1.3 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2010.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 23.2 square miles (60.0 km²), of which 22.6 square miles (58.4 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (2.63%) is water. Pepperell is located at the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Nissitissit River
Nissitissit River
The Nissitissit River is a river located in southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts in the United States. It is a tributary of the Nashua River, itself a tributary of the Merrimack River, which flows to the Gulf of Maine. This river is part of the Nashua River Watershed.The Nissitissit...
with the Nashua River
Nashua River
The Nashua River, long, is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, by junction of its north and south branches near Lancaster, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the...
. According to the Pepperell Reader, the town is situated on a long extinct volcano that helped shape much of New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
's geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
.
Pepperell borders Brookline
Brookline, New Hampshire
Brookline is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,991 at the 2010 census. Brookline is home to the Talbot-Taylor Wildlife Sanctuary.-History:...
and Hollis
Hollis, New Hampshire
Hollis is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,684 at the 2010 census. The town center village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Hollis Village Historic District....
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
to the north, Dunstable
Dunstable, Massachusetts
Dunstable is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 3,179 at the 2010 census.-Etymology:Dunstable was named after its sister town Dunstable, UK....
to the east, Groton
Groton, Massachusetts
Groton is a town located in northwestern Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The population was 10,646 at the 2010 census. It is home to two noted prep schools: Groton School, founded in 1884, and Lawrence Academy at Groton, founded in 1793. The historic town hosts the National Shepley Hill Horse...
to the south, and Townsend
Townsend, Massachusetts
Townsend is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 8,926 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place Townsend, please see the article Townsend , Massachusetts....
to the west.
Pepperell is served by state routes 111, 113, 119 and 122.
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 11,142 people, 3,847 households, and 3,016 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 493.8 people per square mile (190.7/km²). There were 3,917 housing units at an average density of 173.6 per square mile (67.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.6% White, 0.4% Black or African American
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...
, 0.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% 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 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.0% of the population.
There were 3,847 households out of which 44.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% 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, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.6% were non-families. 17.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the town the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,163, and the median income for a family was $73,967. 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 $25,722. About 2.0% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Pepperell is a part of the North Middlesex Regional School DistrictNorth Middlesex Regional School District
North Middlesex Regional School District is an operating school district, located in the north/central section of Massachusetts on the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border, and serving the towns of Ashby, Pepperell and Townsend.-High schools:*...
, which administers the public schools, except for the Nashoba Valley Technical High School
Nashoba Valley Technical High School
Nashoba Valley Technical High School is a public, four-year, career-focused high school located on Route 110 in Westford, MA. Following a $25 million renovation and expansion, its service area covers 14 communities including the seven District towns of Chelmsford, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell,...
. The other two towns in the district, Townsend and Ashby, also have local elementary schools, but all three towns share the North Middlesex Regional High School.
Recreation
- TAP basketball
- Basketball Courts
- Little League Baseball http://eteamz.active.com/pepperellll/index.cfm
- North Middlesex Pop Warner Football http://eteamz.active.com/NMPW/
- Pepperell Youth Soccer http://www.pysl.org/
- Skate Park
- Nashua River Rail TrailNashua River Rail TrailThe Nashua River Rail Trail is a paved mixed-use rail trail in northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire under control of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation ....
(bicycling, running, and walking) - North Middlesex Youth Lacrosse
Notable residents
- Henry Adams BullardHenry Adams BullardHenry Adams Bullard was a member of the U. S. House of Representatives representing the state of Louisiana. He served two terms as a Democrat and one as a Whig....
, congressman from LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties... - John Wesley EmersonJohn Wesley EmersonJohn Wesley Emerson was an American lawyer, American Civil War commander, Missouri Circuit Court judge, and the founder and principal investor of the Emerson Electric Company.-Early life:...
, founder of Emerson Electric CompanyEmerson Electric CompanyEmerson Electric Company is a major multinational corporation headquartered in Ferguson, Missouri, United States. This Fortune 500 company manufactures products and provides engineering services for a wide range of industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.Emerson is one of the largest... - Barzillai LewBarzillai LewBarzillai Lew was an African American soldier who served with distinction during the American Revolution.-Family history:...
, soldier, fifer and drummer - Colonel William PrescottWilliam PrescottWilliam Prescott was an American colonel in the Revolutionary War who commanded the rebel forces in the Battle of Bunker Hill...
, officer in the American RevolutionAmerican RevolutionThe American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
led colonial forces at the Battle of Bunker HillBattle of Bunker HillThe Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, mostly on and around Breed's Hill, during the Siege of Boston early in the American Revolutionary War... - Katherine Hancock RagsdaleKatherine Hancock RagsdaleKatherine Hancock Ragsdale is an American Episcopal Priest based in Massachusetts and president and dean of Episcopal Divinity School. Before becoming dean she was director of Political Research Associates from May 2005 through June 2009....
, priest - Herman Osman StickneyHerman Osman StickneyHerman Osman Stickney was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy who served in various capacities, including as Commander, Pacific Fleet at the end of his military career...
, admiral - Hermon F. TitusHermon F. TitusHermon Franklin Titus was an American socialist activist and newspaper publisher. Originally a Baptist minister before becoming a medical doctor, Titus is best remembered as a factional leader of the Washington state affiliate of the Socialist Party of America during the first decade of the 20th...
, radical newspaper publisher and Socialist PartySocialist Party of AmericaThe Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
factional leader
External links
- Town of Pepperell, Massachusetts
- Lawrence Library
- Pepperell Historical Society
- Pepperell Fire Department
- Pepperell covered bridge
- More about the covered bridge
- Nashoba Valley Chorale: An SATB chorus that rehearses in Littleton and performs in neighboring communities, from Acton to Pepperell
- http://www.town.pepperell.ma.us/DPW/CoveredBridge.html (Removal of covered bridge and construction of a new covered bridge)