Founded in 1765 by Charles & Henry Shoemaker, Shoemakersville was incorporated as a Borough in 1921. Shoemakersville is located in northern Berks County on the east bank of the Schuylkill River. PA Route 61 passes through the borough, leading south 12 miles (19 km) to Reading, and north 4 miles (6 km) to Interstate 78 in Hamburg.

Shoemakersville has a total area of 0.58 square miles (1.5 km²), of which 0.023 square miles (0.06 km²), or 3.96%, is water. The population according to the 2020 census is 1,360.