Its campus is designated as a National Historic Landmark District, for its role as the first major effort to adapt urban settlement reform work into a rural setting.

The school was the dream of a local man, William Creech Sr., who was troubled by the area's lack of educational opportunities, and the prevalence of social problems and rampant disease.

He donated land for the school and recruited two women, Katherine Pettit of Lexington, Kentucky, and Ethel de Long, a New Jersey native, to establish and run the new institution.

[3] In 1930, Pine Mountain was adapted as a boarding high school, encouraging vocational and artistic development for students from the Appalachian region, as well as academics.

Today, in addition to cultural and environmental education, Pine Mountain Settlement School offers agricultural, culinary, and arts and crafts programming for adults and students.

Members of alumnae and collegiate chapters and colonies of Alpha Sigma Tau raised money annually for Pine Mountain Settlement School.