| Pepperell, Massachusetts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — Town — | |||
| Lawrence Library | |||
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| Location in Middlesex County in Massachusetts | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | Massachusetts | ||
| County | Middlesex | ||
| Settled | 1720 | ||
| Incorporated | 1775 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Open town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 23.2 sq mi (60.0 km2) | ||
| • Land | 22.6 sq mi (58.4 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 244 ft (74 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 11,497 | ||
| • Density | 504.8/sq mi (195.4/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 01463 | ||
| Area code(s) | 351 / 978 | ||
| FIPS code | 25-52805 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0618231 | ||
| Website | http://www.town.pepperell.ma.us/ | ||
Pepperell is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,497 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell.
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Pepperell was first settled in 1720 as a part of Groton, 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 orchards. By 1837, when the population was 1,586, Pepperell had three paper mills. It also produced palm leaf hats, boots and shoes.[1]
The well-known Chester H. Waterous Bridge was, until recently, the only covered bridge 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.[2]
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, 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 of the Nissitissit River with the Nashua River. According to the Pepperell Reader, the town is situated on a long extinct volcano that helped shape much of New England's geology.
Pepperell borders Brookline and Hollis, New Hampshire to the north, Dunstable to the east, Groton to the south, and Townsend to the west.
Pepperell is served by state routes 111, 113, 119 and 122.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1850 | 1,754 | — |
| 1860 | 1,895 | +8.0% |
| 1870 | 1,842 | −2.8% |
| 1880 | 2,348 | +27.5% |
| 1890 | 3,127 | +33.2% |
| 1900 | 3,701 | +18.4% |
| 1910 | 2,953 | −20.2% |
| 1920 | 2,468 | −16.4% |
| 1930 | 2,922 | +18.4% |
| 1940 | 3,114 | +6.6% |
| 1950 | 3,460 | +11.1% |
| 1960 | 4,336 | +25.3% |
| 1970 | 5,887 | +35.8% |
| 1980 | 8,061 | +36.9% |
| 1990 | 10,098 | +25.3% |
| 2000 | 11,142 | +10.3% |
| 2001* | 11,303 | +1.4% |
| 2002* | 11,279 | −0.2% |
| 2003* | 11,274 | −0.0% |
| 2004* | 11,233 | −0.4% |
| 2005* | 11,246 | +0.1% |
| 2006* | 11,223 | −0.2% |
| 2007* | 11,295 | +0.6% |
| 2008* | 11,367 | +0.6% |
| 2009* | 11,508 | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 11,497 | −0.1% |
| * = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] |
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As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 11,142 people, 3,847 households, and 3,016 families residing in the town. The population density 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, 0.0% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% from other races, 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 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 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.
Pepperell is a part of the North Middlesex Regional School District, which administers the public schools, except for the Nashoba Valley Technical High School. 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.[14]