Adopted in the 15th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 31 March 1917, as a well-established name, and as identified in an 1870 field survey book by Edgar Dewdney, and as labelled on Trutch's 1871 map of British Columbia, and as labelled on BC map 1G, 1916, etc. Headwaters extended 3 November 1965 on 92P/13, to include the watercourse above Chimney Lake previously known as John Lake Creek.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Labelled "Barge River" on Map of a Portion of the Colony of British Columbia, by A.C. Anderson, 1867.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Named because of the chimney-like bluff of rock at its mouth (15th Report, Geographic Board of Canada). Chimney Creek Post Office was established 1 August 1915, situated in a ranch building on Lot 7966; closed 23 April 1917.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Years ago an Indian built a fireplace of rocks near here, and the chimney stood for many years. (Manning, Place Names in the Cariboo)

Source: Provincial Archives of BC "Place Names File" compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions