Serving as the county seat of Barrow County, Winder was incorporated in 1893 when the Seaboard Air Line Railroad was built through town. The name "Winder" is derived from the president of the railroad, John H. Winder of North Carolina. Winder has shared in the rapid growth of the county in the last ten years. Boasting a prime location in the center of Georgia's "Golden Triangle," newcomers to Winder are never far away from the metropolitan amenities of Atlanta. Known as the University Parkway, Georgia Route 316 crosses Barrow County east to west and connects the University of Georgia to Georgia Tech, Emory University and Georgia State University in Atlanta. In addition, easy access to I-85 provides residents a short one hour drive to the greater Atlanta area.