Kentucky Soil Surveys
Kentucky has 84 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil, making up roughly 50% of surveyed soils. Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates account for another 21%.
In terms of drainage, 77% of Kentucky soils are classified as well drained. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.
Soil Types
Alfisols
50% of surveyed soils
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Ultisols
21% of surveyed soils
Strongly weathered clay soils of the Southeast. Acidic and naturally low in nutrients. Clay subsoil can slow drainage.
Inceptisols
17% of surveyed soils
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Entisols
5% of surveyed soils
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Mollisols
4% of surveyed soils
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Survey Areas
Adair County, KentuckyAllen County, KentuckyAnderson and Franklin Counties, KentuckyBallard and McCracken Counties, KentuckyBarren County Area, KentuckyBath County, KentuckyBell and Harlan Counties, KentuckyBoone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties, KentuckyBourbon and Nicholas Counties, KentuckyBoyd and Greenup Counties, KentuckyBoyle and Mercer Counties, KentuckyBracken and Robertson Counties, KentuckyBreathitt County, KentuckyBreckinridge and Meade Counties, KentuckyBullitt and Spencer Counties, KentuckyButler and Edmonson Counties Area, KentuckyCaldwell County, KentuckyCalloway and Marshall Counties, KentuckyCarlisle and Hickman Counties, KentuckyCarroll, Gallatin, and Owen Counties, KentuckyCarter County, KentuckyCasey County, KentuckyChristian County, KentuckyClark County, KentuckyClay County, KentuckyClinton County, KentuckyCrittenden County, KentuckyCumberland County, KentuckyDaviess and Hancock Counties, KentuckyElliott County, KentuckyEstill and Lee Counties, KentuckyFayette County Area, Part of Fayette County, KentuckyFleming County, KentuckyFloyd and Johnson Counties, KentuckyFulton County, KentuckyGarrard and Lincoln Counties, KentuckyGrant and Pendleton Counties, KentuckyGraves County, KentuckyGrayson County, KentuckyGreen and Taylor Counties, KentuckyHardin and Larue Counties, KentuckyHarrison County, KentuckyHart County Area, KentuckyHenderson County, KentuckyHenry and Trimble Counties, KentuckyHopkins County, KentuckyJackson and Owsley Counties, KentuckyJefferson County, KentuckyJessamine and Woodford Counties, KentuckyKnott and Letcher Counties, KentuckyKnox and Eastern Part of Whitley Counties, KentuckyLaurel and Rockcastle Counties, KentuckyLawrence and Martin Counties, KentuckyLeslie and Perry Counties, KentuckyLewis County, KentuckyLivingston County, KentuckyLogan County, KentuckyLyon and Trigg Counties, KentuckyMadison County, KentuckyMagoffin and Morgan Counties, KentuckyMammoth Cave National Park, KentuckyMarion County, KentuckyMason County, KentuckyMcCreary-Whitley Area, KentuckyMcLean and Muhlenberg Counties, KentuckyMenifee and Rowan Counties, KentuckyMetcalfe County, KentuckyMonroe County, KentuckyMontgomery County, KentuckyNelson County, KentuckyOhio County, KentuckyOldham County, KentuckyPike County, KentuckyPowell and Wolfe Counties, KentuckyPulaski County, KentuckyRussell County, KentuckyScott County, KentuckyShelby County, KentuckySimpson County, KentuckyTodd County, KentuckyUnion and Webster Counties, KentuckyWarren County, KentuckyWashington County, KentuckyWayne County, Kentucky