[3] On 1 January 2017, the former communes of Argouges, Carnet, La Croix-Avranchin, Montanel, Vergoncey and Villiers-le-Pré were merged into Saint-James.

During the latter half of the Hundred Years' War the immediate area saw heavy military activity between the opposing English and French forces.

From 29 July 1901 to 31 December 1933, Saint-James was connected via the 17 kilometres (11 miles) metre gauge Avranches–Saint-James tramway to Avranches, which operated three steam trains for mixed passenger and goods transport each day in both directions.

Saint-James is twinned with: After the liberation of the area by Allied Forces on 4 August 1944, General George S. Patton established the Third Army's field headquarters at the Chateau de la Paluelle.

Declared operational on 14 August, the airfield was designated as "A-29", it was used by the 373d Fighter Group which flew P-47 Thunderbolts until early September when the unit moved into Central France.