About the Village of Flat Rock

The Village of Flat Rock is a historic residential community with forested landscapes and scenic vistas along winding byways. Rich with history, tradition, and beauty, we are a place where people come to visit and many choose to stay. 

Located in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina in Henderson County, we incorporated in 1995 and are governed by a mayor and six council members.

Although not incorporated until 1995, Flat Rock existed long before then. The village is built around a tremendous outcrop of granite that is said to have been the site of Cherokee gatherings as well as a place used by early traders. Although development has covered much of the flat rock, part of it can still be seen at the Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theatre of North Carolina, and in front of the Blue Ridge Fire Station on Greenville Highway.

The year 1807 marked the recording of the first official use of the term ‘Great Flat Rock’ in public records on a map drawn by geographers to mark the pioneer settlement that was growing up around the granite outcrop. 

Home to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, a National Park Service property, and the Flat Rock Playhouse, much of the village was placed in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Register of Historic Places as the Historic Flat Rock District in 1973 by Historic Flat Rock, Inc., with more extensive information added in 2015.

 

Our Vision

Preservation of Flat Rock as a small, quiet historic village situated in a wooded scenic landscape blending quality residential homes and open spaces.

The Village Comprehensive Land Use Plan, adopted on June 9, 2022, sets out the goals and policies intended to guide the present and future development of the Village, reflecting our vision.

 

Staff

The Village of Flat Rock employs one part-time and four full-time staff members.

 

Taxes & Budget

The village’s property tax rate is 11.9 cents per $100 of property valuation, estimated to bring in $1,667,029 for FY 2024/2025.

In addition, there is a Henderson County property tax rate of 43.1 cents per $100 of property valuation.

The Village’s general fund budget for fiscal year 2024/2025 is $2,935,564. Of that, $1,679,371 covers our contracts with Blue Ridge Fire & Rescue, Valley Hill Fire & Rescue, and Green River Fire & Rescue, the three fire departments that service the Village.