The town was first named "Municipalité du canton d'Ashford" in 1898 and got its current name in 1955.
It is known for its local Chicken Festival every September.
Geography
Saint-Damase-de-L'Islet is located near the south shore of the upper Estuary of St. Lawrence, in the Côte-du-Sud region, at the eastern border of the municipalities of Saint-Aubert and Saint-Cyrille-de-Lessard. The municipality of L'Islet, to the west, is located nearby.