Note: This is NOT the official web site of Barrow County or of any county officials; it is an educational web site about the history of the county courthouse and the county itself.  For the address and phone number of the courthouse and county officials, see the NaCO web page for Barrow County, linked below: Mailing Address and Phone Number: See NaCO web page for Barrow County Location: Downtown Winder, Ga. GPS Coordinates of Courthouse Main Entrance: 33°59.537N, 83°43.284W Street Address: 30 N. Broad St., Winder, GA 30680 Date Built: 1920 Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival Designer: J.J. Baldwin

Other Information: Administrative offices of county government are housed in the Barrow County Administration Building (click here for photo). County History: On July 7, 1914, a joint resolution of the General Assembly was approved proposing a constitutional amendment to create Barrow County from portions of Gwinnett, Jackson, and Walton counties (Ga. Laws 1914, p. 27). On Nov. 3, 1914, Georgia voters approved the constitutional amendment, making Barrow Georgia's 149th county. Reportedly, the new county was created because although downtown Winder was located in Walton County, its city boundaries extended into Gwinnett and Jackson counties, meaning Winder residents were divided among three different counties. As a result, local citizens petitioned the General Assembly to create a new county with Winder as county seat in the center. The new county was named after David C. Barrow, who was then chancellor of the University of Georgia. Why was Barrow County created by constitutional amendment instead of an act of the General Assembly? In 1904, Georgia voters had approved a constitutional amendment limiting the number of counties in the state to 145. The next year, the General Assembly created eight new counties, bringing the total number to 145 -- the constitutional limit. Nevertheless, there was continuing pressure to create more counties. Beginning in 1906, lawmakers got around the 145-county limitation by creating new counties through constitutional amendments that were not subject to the limitation. By 1924, Georgia had 161 counties -- 16 of which had been created by constitutional amendment. On Jan. 1, 1932, Milton and Campbell counties merged with Fulton, leaving 159 counties. In 1945, Georgia voters ratified a new constitution -- one which provided an absolute limit of 159 counties, with an additional provision (see text) that no new country could be created except through consolidation of existing counties. County Seat: The proposed constitutional amendment creating Barrow County provided that Winder serve as county seat. Winder was first settled at an unknown date in what was then Walton County. Originally, it was known as Jug Tavern and was incorporated under that name by the General Assembly on Dec. 24, 1884 (Ga. Laws 1884-85, p. 339). It was reincorporated as Winder by an act of Dec. 20, 1893 (Ga. Laws 1893, p. 223). The new name was chosen to honor Seaboard Air Line Railroad president John H. Winder for building his railroad through Jug Tavern in 1893. Maps Georgia DOT Map of Barrow County, pdf (612K) Historical Maps of Barrow County Size of County (Total Area): 162.8 square miles County Rank in Total Area: 152th out of 159 Population: Barrow County 46,144 (2000) Barrow County Historical Population Profile City of Winder 10,201 (2000)   © Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia Go to Georgia County Courthouses Contents page