The bounds of these eight counties as noted in Tyler's _The Cradle of the Republic_ were as follows:
Elizabeth City County extending on both sides of Hampton Roads, on the south side to Chuckatuck Creek and on the north side to Newport News and including a small part thereof.
Warrosquyoake County, later Isle of Wight, extending on the south side of James River from Chuckatuck Creek to Lawne's Creek.
Warwick River County extending on the north side of James River from Elizabeth City County to Skiffe's (Keith's) Creek. This is the only original shire from which no other county was formed. The name was changed to Warwick County in 1643.
James City County extending on both sides of James River, on the south side from Lawne's Creek to Upper Chippokes Creek and on the north side from Skiffe's Creek to above Sandy Point.
Charles City County also extending on both sides of James River, on the south side from Upper Chippokes Creek to Appomattox River and on the north side from Sandy Point to Turkey Island Creek.
Henrico County extending from Charles City County on both sides of James River indefinitely westward.
Charles River County, later York, lay to the north of Warwick County and adjoined Elizabeth City County on the east. Its north and west boundaries were indefinite. The colonists soon crossed the York River to establish plantations along its northern bank and settled as far west as the Pamunkey River.
Accomack, the eighth shire, like York County, showed the vitality of the colonists in pushing settlements away from the vicinity of Jamestown into uncharted wilds.
The Potomac River was the dividing line between Virginia and Maryland, and on the Eastern Shore the division was approximately in line with the mouth of this river. Settling on the Shore in 1616, the colonists moved slowly northward. The Indians were friendly, transportation easy, climate mild, and soil fertile. There was no impediment to growth.
The population of the colony is estimated to have been around 5,000 persons in 1634 as has been noted. Six years later it had increased about 50%, being 7,466 persons. One factor in this growth was the unrest in England at this time which culminated a few years later in bitter civil war.
