The present city grew out of a resort centered on a local chalybeate spring.

Rennick relates that Samuel Patterson was generally credited with settling the site and that the community was known as Big Boiling Springs by 1850.

[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.6 square miles (12 km2), all land.

U.S. Route 127 passes through the eastern part of the Russell Springs, connecting it with the Lake Cumberland area and Tennessee to the south, and the city of Liberty to the northeast.

The Cumberland Parkway also traverses Russell Springs, connecting it with Columbia to the west and Somerset to the east.

38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.