The town was named for John M. Winn, an early landholder.

[3] Henry Poor & Son, a large leather firm in Boston, owned a tannery in Winn which burned down in 1892, bankrupting the company.

There were 210 housing units at an average density of 4.8 per square mile (1.9/km2).

The racial makeup of the town was 98.3% White, 0.2% African American, and 1.5% from two or more races.

22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

18.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.