St. Lewis, like Black Tickle, William's Harbour and Battle Harbour, has been a prime fishing centre on the southeast coast of Labrador for over 200 years. The area was first seasonally occupied by the fishing servants of the major English merchant firms active on the coast in the mid- 1700's, and it was eventually settled by fishing servants who had intermarried with Inuit families.

Today the community of St. Lewis has a population of about 210-215. The mail employer is Coastal Labrador Fisheries. This facility employs approximately 80 people. The public services and facilities that are available include a Post Office, GRHS Clinic, St. Lewis Academy, Air Labrador Agent, Cap Site, St. Lewis Volunteer Fire Department, a Town Council and a youth center. Some retail businesses include Accommodations, Restaurant, Gas Station, Grocery Stores and Curl's Bed and Breakfast. St. Lewis also has government services available such as Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, Loran C Station, Newtel Communications and a Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Their church is known as St. Mark the Evangelist Anglican Church. Some other organizations include Anglican Church Women (ACW), Recreation Committee and a Heritage society which has a museum and walking trails at American Hill to Deep Water Creek and St. Lewis Cape.