The town is named after the natural spring found on the university's property, which feeds a small lake.

Boiling Springs was known as a sleepy community, with no railroads, no industries, few stores and no paved streets.

At the turn of the 20th century, Kings Mountain Baptist and Sandy Run Associations began looking for a place to build their denominational high school and chose Boiling Springs because it was geographically situated between the two associations and because the Boiling Springs community made concerted efforts to attract the school.

The Boiling Springs High School boarding institution opened for business in 1905.

Town limits were decided by drawing a mile and a half radius from the school's original bell tower.

Voters approved ordinances to allow for the sale of beer, unfortified wine, and malt beverages within town limits in 2018.

[5] E. B. Hamrick Hall and the Irvin-Hamrick Log House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Charlotte, approximately 50 miles (80 km) east, is the closest major city.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.5 km2), all land.