Robert McQueen, attracted by the relatively good river access, platted a village of sixteen square blocks.

Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, considered expanding his base from Nauvoo by establishing another Mormon community at Shokokon in 1843.

The majority of the commercial buildings moved several miles southeast to be near the newly built Carthage and Burlington Railroad station at Carman in 1869.

Located within the Pool 19 (also known as Lake Cooper), Shokokon's relationship to the Mississippi River is complex, the levee system is on the opposite side of the township.

The United States Army Corps of Engineers designated the township under the Henderson County Drainage District #2.