The history of the village of Kalveliai started in late 19th century, while Šumskas was bought by landlord Kazimieras Šumskis in 1618, and was named after him.

In 1696 his son established a church and a Dominican parish school.

[2] In 2000, Kalveliai saw the construction of a new church, and in 2007 the first[dubious – discuss] monument in Lithuania dedicated to Pope John Paul II was erected nearby.

[2] The eldership comprises 32 villages, and the largest settlements are Kalveliai, Kena, Pakenė and Šumskas.

[2] According to the 2021 National Census, out of 3950 inhabitants: According to the 2011 National Census:[3] Kalveliai eldership before the 2010s was one of just few elderships in Lithuania where Lithuanians were not the dominant or the second largest ethnographic group, but the third.