Whitmire Spring facts for kids

Whitmire Spring is a natural water source in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. A spring is a place where water flows out from underground. This spring is correctly shown on maps as Whitmire Spring. However, sometimes it's mistakenly called Whitmore Spring by the U.S. Geological Survey (a government group that studies the Earth).

The spring got its name from J. B. Whitmire. He was a rancher who lived there in the 1880s and owned the Whitmire Ranch. Whitmire Spring is located about 4,291 feet (1,308 meters) above sea level. It sits on the western side of Playas Lake, close to where the old Whitmire Ranch used to be. Whitmire Spring is one of many springs and seeps (small wet spots) found along the western edge of Playas Lake. The water for this spring comes from the Animas Mountains, which are nearby to the west.

A Stop on an Old Trail

Whitmire Spring played an important role in history. On November 23-24, 1846, an expedition led by Lt. Col. Philip St. George Cooke stopped here. This group included the Mormon Battalion, a special military unit.

Cooke's Wagon Road

The path this expedition took became known as Cooke's Wagon Road. This road was a key part of the southern route to California during the California Gold Rush. Many people used it in the mid-1800s to search for gold.

Whitmire Spring was a very important discovery for Cooke's expedition. They had traveled for two days and about 40 miles without finding much water. The spring was their first big water source after leaving Burro Cienega. The expedition later crossed the Animas Mountains through Whitmire Pass. This pass is about 7 miles west-southwest of the spring.

Later History of the Spring

After the early 1850s, a shorter path called the Tucson Cutoff became more popular. This new route replaced part of Cooke's Wagon Road for east-west travel. Later, in the 1880s, during the end of the Apache Wars, J. B. Whitmire became the first settler at the springs. He built his ranch house there before selling the property.