A town developed around the supposed health-giving waters of a spring.

The Roman baths at Bath, England.

Pagosa Springs, a riverside spa and hot bathing springs beside the San Juan river, CO.

Many ancient civilizations used spas. The Romans built many spas such as the one shown below. The city of Bath was named after the baths built next to the spa waters.

Spas were also developed in later centuries. Spa towns were built in both the 18th and 19th centuries. You can usually find them by their names, such as Hot Spings (e.g., Steamboat Springs; Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, CO; White Sulphur Springs, WV; Saratoga Springs, NY.).