High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Peterborough is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,883 at the 2000 census, with an estimated population of 6,100 in 2006. Home to the MacDowell Art Colony, the town is a popular tourist destination.Granted by Massachusetts in 1737, it was first permanently settled in 1749. The town suffered several attacks during the French and Indian War. Nevertheless, by 1759, there were fifty families settled. Incorporated on January 17, 1760 by Governor Benning Wentworth, it was named after Lieutenant Peter Prescott (1709-1784) of Concord, Massachusetts, a prominent land speculator.