Originally part of Michilimackinac County, it received a post office named Beaver Island on January 13, 1849 with Charles Wright serving as the first postmaster.

Strang named the new community after himself, and the post office was renamed St. James on October 10, 1854 when it became part of Emmet County.

After Strang's murder in 1856 by disgruntled followers, the community began to fold, and the post office closed on March 6, 1868.

[4] The community of St. James was listed as a newly-organized census-designated place for the 2010 census, meaning it now has officially defined boundaries and population statistics for the first time.

The center of town faces southeast onto St. James Harbor, through which the Beaver Island Ferry arrives from Charlevoix.