Platte County, Wyoming
The most common soil here is Keeline, on about 7% of the land: a sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Taluce and Recluse come next.
About 89% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 51% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 48% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: bedrock lies within 40 inches under 51% of it.
Soils change over short distances, so look up an address below for the soil at that exact spot and the reasons behind each rating.
The soils you're most likely standing on
The biggest named soils in Platte County, Wyoming, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.
Dots mark gravel; white flecks mark lime. Shares are by acres across the survey area, and each mapped patch usually mixes several of these soils.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Platte County, Wyoming. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brown-Featherlegs-Recluse complex, 5 to 40 percent slopes | 54K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Taluce, thin solum-Rock outcrop-Turnercrest complex, 6 to 50 percent slopes | 47K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Keeline-Taluce-Turnercrest fine sandy loams, 3 to 40 percent slopes | 41K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Claprych-Luman very gravelly sandy loams, 0 to 10 percent slopes | 39K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Rock outcrop-Cathedral complex, 20 to 40 percent slopes | 38K | D | Very limited | Very limited | |
| Sunup-Snavee-Rock outcrop complex, 0 to 30 percent slopes | 37K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cascajo-Taluce-Badland complex, 6 to 40 percent slopes | 33K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Featherlegs-Recluse loams, 3 to 15 percent slopes | 30K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Keeline-Nidix-Taluce complex, 10 to 60 percent slopes | 28K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Evanston-Ipson complex, 0 to 20 percent slopes | 26K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Tyzak-Tyzak, thin solum-Rock outcrop complex, 8 to 50 percent slopes | 26K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Featherlegs-Greenhope-Curabith fine sandy loams, 3 to 15 percent slopes | 26K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Coaliams-Haverdad complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 25K | Moderately well drained | B | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Aberone gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 15 percent slopes | 23K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Storsun-Sunup-Rock outcrop complex, 3 to 50 percent slopes | 23K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Alice-Bayard fine sandy loams, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Deight-Thirtynine-Glendo very fine sandy loams, 0 to 6 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Not limited |
| Taluce-Rock outcrop-Turnercrest complex, moist, 6 to 50 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Clarkelen-Quarterback very fine sandy loams, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Somewhat limited |
| Taluce-Turnercrest-Keeline fine sandy loams, 3 to 20 percent slopes | 22K | Well drained | D | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 48% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 51% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Despite good drainage overall, limitations may stem from shallow bedrock, steep slopes, or seasonal conditions. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.