The town of Darien (originally known as "New Inverness") was founded in January 1736 by Scottish Highlanders recruited by James Oglethorpe to act as settler-soldiers protecting the frontiers of Georgia from the Spanish in Florida, the French in the Alabama basin, and the Indian allies of each colonial enterprise.

The Scots originated mainly from around Inverness and consisted of both Jacobite and Hanoverian supporting clans, the majority of whom spoke only Gaelic.

When visited by Oglethorpe in February, the settlers had already constructed "a battery of four pieces of cannon, built a guardhouse, a storehouse, a chapel, and several huts for particular people.

Initially the settlers' economy was based on the cultivation of crops; however, after the first year, they suffered a succession of poor harvests.

[9] The Highlanders' petition was successful, but slavery was introduced ten years later in 1749 because the proprietors could not attract enough laborers to make the colony profitable.

In November, in response to two Scots garrisoned on Amelia Island being killed in an ambush by Spanish-allied Indians, the Darien settlers mobilized and, together with forces from South Carolina, captured the Spanish forts Picolata, San Francisco de Pupo, San Diego, and Mose, before attempting to lay siege to St. Augustine.

In January 1775, the city passed a resolution condemning slavery, saying: To show the world that we are not influenced by any contracted or interested motives, but a general philanthropy for all mankind, of whatever climate, language, or complexion, we hereby declare our disapprobation and abhorrence of the unnatural practice of Slavery in America, (however the uncultivated state of our country, or other specious arguments may plead for it,) a practice founded in injustice and cruelty, and highly dangerous to our liberties, (as well as our lives,) debasing part of our fellow-creatures below men, and corrupting the virtue and morals of the rest; and is laying the basis of that liberty we contend for (and which we pray the Almighty to continue to the latest posterity) upon a very wrong foundation.

This was part of the Union strategy to damage the Confederate states' ability to supply food and materiel towards their war effort.

The troops plundered residents and plantations of McIntosh County for food, as armies lived off the land to a great extent.

On the night of August 3, 1864, the county's white defenders had met at the Ebenezer Church, 9 mi (14 km) north of Darien.

[14] Following the Civil War, Darien was rebuilt, with financial aid coming in small part from the family of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.

The town was put under martial law by Colonel W.R. Neal of the Georgia militia in response to the mob.

This has resulted in the building of several chain restaurants, gas stations, and hotels, as well as a small outlet mall.

[19] It is bordered to the south by the Altamaha River, 10 miles (16 km) upstream (west) from its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean.

The city is sited on a low bluff overlooking the Darien River, a tidal channel that reaches the Atlantic at Doboy Sound north of the Altamaha.

Interstate 95 passes through the west side of the city limits, with access from Exit 49 (State Route 250).