The founders named it after Sir William Pepperrell, a Massachusetts colonial soldier who led the Siege of Louisbourg during the French and Indian War.

[citation needed] Since its formation, the town was active in the American independence movement.

[citation needed] Town resident William Prescott served as the commander at the Battle of Bunker Hill in what is now the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston.

To correct this, a trestle bridge and rail connection was constructed from the B&M's WN&P line over the Nashua River so that freights could still service the mill.

[8] In 2001, what had been the railroad corridor was paved over to become part of the Nashua River Rail Trail.

The override helped fill a $1.3 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2010.

One of only three covered bridges on public Massachusetts roads that is open to vehicular traffic (and the only one east of the Connecticut River) is located on Groton Street in Pepperell.

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, Townsend to the west, and Nashua, New Hampshire to the northeast via the Nashua River.

Pepperell is a part of the North Middlesex Regional School District, along with Ashby, and Townsend.