The East Florida Railway was incorporated

• to build a railroad from Jacksonville, in Duval county, to Calico Hill , on the St. Marys river, in Nassau county.

Florida state law chapter ?, approved March 4, 1881, established land grants for the railroad. The railroad had been graded but not completed, so land was granted to allow them to raise funds to finish the line.

Florida state law chapter 3485, approved March 3, 1883, increased the area from which to choose the land grants.