Correctly named on the Playas Lake South U. S. topographic map, it is mistakenly called Whitmore Spring on the U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System.
[4] Whitmire Spring was a stopping point of the expedition of Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke and the Mormon Battalion from November 23–24, 1846.
The spring was the first significant source of water found by the expedition after two days and 40 miles travel, southwest of Burro Cienega.
Whitmire Pass through which Cooke's expedition crossed the Animas Mountains on November 25 lies 7 miles west southwest of the springs.
B. Whitmire was the first settler at the springs and made them the site of his ranch house until he sold out.