Barrow · Gwinnett · The railroad city
About Auburn
Auburn is a city that spans Barrow and Gwinnett counties, most of it in Barrow, and it takes its name from the auburn-red color of the local clay that was used to dye cloth. It was incorporated in 1892, right after the railroad extended its line to the settlement, and the first train arrived on February 9 of that year.
Auburn is a small city with a genuine center: the downtown block on 4th and 5th streets, the city parks, and the Auburn Public Library, with Fort Yargo State Park sitting just across the line in Winder.
What it is
A railroad terminus with a clay-colored name
The Seaboard Railroad, originally the Georgia-Carolina and Northern, surveyed the settlement's plat in 1891 and extended its line to that point, and the first train arrived on February 9, 1892. The city grew around its depots and warehouses as the line's terminus. It was incorporated that same year and named for the auburn-red color of the local clay, which was historically used to dye cloth.
Auburn spans Barrow and Gwinnett counties, with most of the city in Barrow. It sits about forty-two miles northeast of Atlanta, on the edge of the Winder and Dacula growth corridors.
How it works
A mayor-council city
The city
- An elected mayor with substantial administrative authority.
- A city council that meets monthly.
- The city runs the downtown block, the parks, and the library.
The counties keep
- The public schools, through Barrow County and Gwinnett County by address side.
- Property tax, elections, and the county-level services.
- The county parks and the state park over the line in Winder.
Straight answers
Questions people actually ask
Why is it called Auburn?
From the auburn-red color of the local clay, which was historically used to dye cloth. It is a color name, not a place name.
Which county is my address in?
Auburn spans Barrow and Gwinnett, with most of the city in Barrow. The county line decides the school district and part of the taxes, so the address check comes first. The schools page lays out the split.
What is the state park connection?
Fort Yargo State Park sits just across the line in Winder, with its lake, swimming beach, trails, and the 1792 log fort. It is the biggest outdoor resource for the Auburn side.
An editorial guide, not a listings site. Updated September 13, 2026. Real-estate guidance on this page is provided by Rob Dietrich, REALTOR® with eXp Realty, LLC.