Soils in McLean County, Illinois

McLean County, Illinois has 110,450 acres of well-drained soil across 118 distinct soil map units. The map below shows every NRCS soil map unit inside the county boundary.

McLean County, Illinois at a glance

Well-drained land110,450 acres
Share of mapped soil that is well drained14.5%
Poorly drained land455,715 acres
Most common drainage classPoorly drained — 246,762 acres
Distinct soil map units118
Largest soil map unitSable silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 110,692 acres
Share with hydrologic soil group A or B (high infiltration)9.2%
Typical shallowest annual water table18 in below the surface

McLean County, Illinois is home to 171,419 residents. Land Owl's soils layer records the following within the county boundary — Well-drained land: 110,450 acres. Share of mapped soil that is well drained: 14.5%. Poorly drained land: 455,715 acres. Most common drainage class: Poorly drained — 246,762 acres. Distinct soil map units: 118. Largest soil map unit: Sable silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes — 110,692 acres. Share with hydrologic soil group A or B (high infiltration): 9.2%. Typical shallowest annual water table: 18 in below the surface. Every feature shown on the map above is clickable, and the figures on this page are derived from the same data the map renders, so they always agree. A free Land Owl account adds parcel boundaries, ownership records, flood zones, wetlands and topography over the same view.

Frequently asked questions

What are the soils like in McLean County, Illinois?
The USDA soil survey maps 110,450 acres of McLean County, Illinois as well drained and 455,715 acres as poorly drained. Drainage class and hydrologic soil group are the two properties that most often decide whether a rural lot can take a septic system and a driveway.
Is this soil map free to use?
Yes. This map is free to view. A free Land Owl account unlocks the other data layers, parcel boundaries and ownership records.
Where does this data come from?
Land Owl maps soils from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SSURGO soil survey. SSURGO describes soil MAP UNITS at survey scale — it is a screening tool for shortlisting land, not a substitute for a site-specific soil evaluation or a septic percolation test, both of which your health department will want before it permits a system.
Can I use this soil map to tell whether land will perc?
It is the right place to start and the wrong place to finish. Drainage class and hydrologic soil group tell you which parcels are worth a site visit, but a health department permits a septic system on a percolation test dug on the actual lot, not on the survey.

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