[3] The Chicago and North Western Railway built a station at the community in 1872–73 to serve local charcoal kilns, which was originally called Ferry Switch.

A post office, originally called Myra, opened in the community on February 24, 1881; Daniel McIntyre was the first postmaster.

[4] The central buildings in the rural Wilson community are the Seventh-day Adventist Church and school.

Wilson is home to the largest Adventist church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Many of the descendants of those who helped to establish the community by building the church and school still live in the area.