Located in Biscayne Bay, about midway between the Ragged Keys and Cape Florida.

Current charts show a single key at this location, but many early maps & charts show at least two. The 1733 Plate Fleet Wreck Chart shows Parida (SP.- "A woman recently delivered of child"). Juan de Liguera chart (1742) also shows Parida, as does the Father Alaña chart (1743). O'Carrol chart (1770) shows La Parida y Su Hijos (SP. - "The New Mother and Her Sons"). DeBrahm chart (1772) shows two keys, Oswald & Laurence. DeBrahm mislocated the placename Soldiers Key in the Ragged Keys. Romans, who visited these keys in 1774 called them La Parida y Su Figulos. Captain Barton, In his Observations, (1774) has Soldier Kays. A Coast Survey chart published in 1855, shows Soldier Key and Little Soldier Key.

John Lee Williams, in his "Territory of Florida" (1837), states, "Soldier Keys are three small Islands, in a row, six miles south of Biscayno."