Archaeological finds from the neolithic, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, and the early Middle Ages indicate that the area where the city is located was inhabited by people for a long time. Eppelheim was first mentioned in historical documents pertaining to a grant in the year 770 in the Lorsch codex under the name "Ebbelenheim". From the 11th century Eppelheim was a typical small village of the Electorate of the Palatinate. The number of inhabitants remained continuously under 150 up until the 18th century. Among the reasons for this was the destruction of Eppelheim in 1689. The village, like so many others in the area, was burned down by French troops on 28 January during the War of the Grand Alliance.