It originally referred only to the area on the south side of Shira-kawa River, but later came also to include the area on the north side, with the south side named 'Minami Shirakawa/Shimo Shirakawa' and the north side named 'Kita Shirakawa' (according to "Yamashiro Meisho Shi" (Annals of Yamashiro's picturesque sites)).
本来は白川の南側地域のみを指していたが、後に北側地域も含むようになり南側を「南白河/下白河」北側を「北白河」・と称した（『山城名勝志』）。