Scipio was settled in 1790 and became a town on March 5, 1794. It included the military town Sempronius until 1799. In 1804 a portion was ceded to Marcellus, Onondaga County. Scipio was divided again in 1823 to form Venice and Ledyard and part of Springport. In 1823, parts of Aurelius and Scipio were taken, for the formation of Springport. Moravia and Niles were set off in 1833. Union Springs was set apart as a village in Springport in 1848 and Aurora were set apart as a village in Ledyard in 1837. All these towns were at various times called Scipio.