Part of the greater metro area of Atlanta, the city of Winder's first syllable is not pronounced like it looks. In other words, you don't say Winder with a short "i" as in the blowing wind, but pronounce it with a long "i," as in wind the clock, wind down for the day, etc. Keep that distinction in mind in case you need to ask for directions or you may wind up getting lost.
Winder has been around for a long time. Incorporated way back in 1893, it was named for the railroad builder John Winder. Winder is contained in approximately 12.5 square miles with a half square mile, or about 4% of the metro area, made up of water. Located in BarrowCounty in Georgia, Winder is about 50 miles northeast of the center of Atlanta and just over 20 miles due west of Athens.
Moving to Winder
If you are looking for Winder rentals homes, you will, no doubt, find apartment and house choices that will suit your preferences in a neighborhood and lifestyle. Along with two and three bedroom apartment homes, Winder also features rental houses, one bedroom apartment style units, and condos for rent.
Area apartment rentals include such standard features as AC, nicely-equipped kitchens, and washer and dryer hook-ups, so, rest assured, you won't swelter in the summer or be forced to cook victuals over a primitive wood stove. Patios, refrigerators, and garbage disposals and newly updated interiors are included in most apartment residences. If you choose to live in a Winder area complex, you'll find most of the communities feature a swimming pool, tennis courts, fitness facilities, emergency maintenance services and a business center or clubhouse. Wireless Internet access is standard in most the complexes as well.
Winder Neighborhoods
Winder features nine neighborhoods in its metro area. Here are a few details about its most popular areas.
City Center: Despite its name, the City Center is actually suburban, with ample greenery due to Fort Yargo State Park and Fort Yargo Lake.
Pentecost Road / Bowman Mill Road: Along with the city center, popular communities include the area around the Pentecost Road and Bowman Mill Road section of town, which is also suburban and mostly owner occupied, so renting might be difficult in this area.
Gainesville Highway / Rockwell Church Road NW: This quiet neighborhood to the north is slightly more upscale than average, with plenty of single-family homes, almost half of them built in 2000 or later.
Loganville Highway / Matthews School Road: To the west is the Loganville Hwy / Matthews School Rd community, which also features newer homes, a more low-key pace, and and plentiful 3-4 bedroom homes.
Living in Winder
You won't run out of things to do in Winder, either. From fine dining to shopping, museums to the great outdoors, you'll stay plenty busy.
If you happen to feel famished, you can easily satisfy your appetite at one of the popular area eateries. Area restaurants, which can be easily accessed, include Amy Lafayes in Dracula, Turtle Creek Wine and Spirits in Winder, Rico's World Kitchen in Buford, and the LocalRepublic in nearby Lawrenceville. Of note to local burger lovers, the LocalRepublic is home to the "Republic" - a purposely under-cooked burger that is topped with such burger-friendly accompaniments as tomato, onion and lettuce. In the mood for a more tropical entree? The Mojo Pork, highlighted at Rico's World, features mojo smoked pork marinated in a guava-type barbecue sauce.
Winder residents like a good buy as is evidenced by the number of Targets, Walmarts, and Family Dollar stores in the area. You are also in close proximity to such fashion retailers as TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Belk. Therefore, area residents can always stay fashionably attired, even when their credit cards are maxed.
Originally known as "Jug Tavern," Winder is home to the Barrow County Museum, which can be found in the center of town. If you want to get acquainted with the history of the county, then this is the place to go. The museum, whose home is the old county jail, is open on weekday afternoons. Saturday tours of the historical facility can be scheduled by calling the museum during the week.
Outdoor enthusiasts will appreciate the activities offered at nearby Fort Yargo State Park, which regularly plays host to anyone who likes to hike, fish, boat, swim, or play disc golf. Almost 20 miles of trails are open to area bikers and hikers. The park features a large lake and a disc golf course as well. For adventurous campers, yurts are available lake-side while more conservative lovers of the outdoors will enjoy the fully equipped cabins and private campsites. Yurts feature both electricity and furniture, and a grill and picnic table outside.
Golfers in Winder regularly test their skills at the Chimneys Golf Course, set amid the beautiful rolling landscape of the surrounding countryside. Even if you become discouraged about how your game is going, you can still gain some solace by gazing at the pines that stand along the course's Marburg Creek. A challenging par-72 course, Chimneys is conveniently close to Atlanta's northern metro section of town.
Fort Yargo, as you might surmise by the name, is also home to a log fort built in 1792. The fort was established at the time to safeguard settlers from attacks from the Cherokee, who also lived in the area, and the Creeks (no, not the area's streams, but the Native American tribe).
Another place of interest in Winder is the Winder Cultural Arts Center, which is only steps away from the city's business district. Theater arts are showcased at the complex, which serves as the home base for the Colleen O. Williams Theater.