Montreat

History

The town of Montreat was incorporated in 1967. Much of the property in the area is still owned by the Mountain Retreat Association, formed in 1897 by John Collins, a Congregationalist minister from Connecticut. Funding for the retreat's creation was secured from candy manufacturer and philanthropist John S. Huyler, founder of Huyler's. The name of Montreat is a portmanteau of the words "Mountain" and "Retreat". In 1907, control of the Mountain Retreat Association (MRA) passed to the Presbyterian Church in the US, and for many years Montreat has been host to religious conferences, mainly Presbyterian, organized through the MRA. Woman's Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church, U.S. was established in Montreat in 1912. Significant organizations in the contemporary town of Montreat, in addition to the Mountain Retreat Association, include Montreat Presbyterian Church: PC(USA), Montreat College (founded in 1916), and Christ Community Church, EPC (formerly Montreat Presbyterian Church). In 2024, the town was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Geography

Montreat is located in eastern Buncombe County. Its eastern border is the county line, with McDowell County to the east. The town is located in the valley of Flat Creek and is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The only road access is via North Carolina Highway 9, which leads southwest to the town of Black Mountain. According to the United States Census Bureau, Montreat has a total area of .

Race & ethnicity