In 1651, Jesuit missionaries came to the island and established a mission for Huron Indians who were displaced by attacking Iroquois.

After his victory at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the area became inhabited by well-to-do English colonists who were attracted by its romantic landscapes and its renowned microclimate.

Consequently the cottage-style houses and garden landscaping gave the place a decidedly English character.

[1][4] Since the topography was not well-suited for agriculture, the place became a fashionable summer resort by the mid 19th century.

[1] Since the village itself was almost exclusively called Sainte-Pétronille in common use, the municipality was renamed to its current name in 1980.