By Jennifer McKee

Beginning its life as a railroad town, the city of Winterville, Georgia, is named after its designation as Winter’s Station in the 19th century, a wood-and-water stop six miles from Athens, Georgia.

A draw for settlers even before the railroad was built, Winterville is dotted with Victorian-style homes and was known for the quality of its schools. Its life as a trading center, mostly for area farmers, was brief but mighty and boasted two cotton gins, several general stores and a fertilizer plant.

Today, Winterville is known for “small-town living at its best” and has been christened “the Marigold City” for the popular festivals that were used to fund city projects, as well as beautify Winterville.

Winterville was incorporated in 1904 and, although the train tracks were removed when it was no longer a railroad stop, the historic train depot stands tall. The depot doubles as a community center and rental hall.

One of a handful of doctor’s museums in the country, the Carter-Coile Doctors Museum is not to be overlooked. Housed in with clapboard building from the late 1800s, visitors get a look into the world of the country doctor, through tools used for exams and surgery, antiquarian physician’s books and diplomas of the doctors who saw patients there, Warren Carter and Frank Coile. Open by appointment only; call 706.742.8600.

Craving some good Southern comfort food? Don’t miss out on Little City Diner, run by husband-and-wife team Chef Matthew and Deenan Scott. Diners love the sophisticated scrambles, hotcakes, griddled burgers and homemade sandwiches available from 9 am-2 pm Tu-Su. Curbside pickup and patio dining are available, call 706.742.7590.

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Carter-Coile Museum, ©Jen Wolf/Shutterstock
Historic Train Depot, @Hhoschton/Wikimedia Commons

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