Kentucky Soil Surveys
The most common soil here is Shelocta, on about 6% of the land: a silt loam, smooth, like flour. Eden and Lowell come next.
About 76% of the land drains well, and 7% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 19% of it.
USDA rates 86% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 82% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 10% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 41% 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 Kentucky, 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.
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.