The town is named after Thomas Winton, a local stockman who lived and farmed in the area in the 1850s.

Later, dairy farming became the staple economy, although the town has also seen sawmills, and flax and linen-flax industries.

Today, Winton is as an agricultural service town for local farmers and traders and as a stop-off for travellers on the Invercargill–Queenstown highway.

Its population is not declining, partly because farmers retire there, attracted by a climate that is warmer, drier and calmer than Invercargill or Southland’s coastal districts.

[3] Population increases have also been driven by an influx of dairy workers who have migrated with their families from countries such as the Philippines and the Netherlands.

Local businesses, worship centres and schools have welcomed the new community members.

On 22 February 1871, a railway line from Invercargill was opened to Winton, built to the international standard gauge of 1,435mm.

This extension opened on 20 October 1875, ending Winton's 4.5 years as a railway terminus, and two months later, the line back to Invercargill was converted to 1,067mm gauge.

It established Winton as a railway junction, and the town functioned in this capacity until 1 January 1968, when the Hedgehope Branch closed.

It is generally warmer, drier and calmer than Invercargill or Southland’s coastal districts.

According to Köppen and Geiger, this climate is classified as 'oceanic' with high humidity year round.