Shipoke was first settled by Europeans in 1710 as a small trading post before other areas of the current city.

After historic cycles of falling into disrepair, Shipoke was devastated by the flooding associated with Hurricane Agnes in 1972.

More recently, the remnants of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011 led to severe flooding and damage in this area.

[2] After years of rehabilitation, Shipoke now is a picturesque, affluent neighborhood known for its beautiful river views.

In 2018, historian and author Dr. Michael L. Barton wrote a satire fiction book of the neighborhood entitled Shitepoke: Venice on the Susquehanna.