Complex sentence: The earlier settlements were along the major waterways, such as the James River and the York River, and expansion and subdivision of the church parishes and shires of Virginia after 1634 each followed the growth.
Split into simpler sentences: The earlier settlements were along the major waterways, such as the James River and the York River. The expansion and subdivision of the church parishes and shires (counties) of Virginia after 1634 each followed the growth.