Hillsdale soils formed in loamy glacial till are on ground and end moraines. Slopes are mostly 2 to 18 percent and range from 0 to 40 percent. The somewhat poorly drained Teasdale and poorly and very poorly drained Barry soils form a drainage sequence with Hillsdale soils and are closely associated. Oshtemo and Spinks soils are associated on low moraines, Oshtemo soils are at slightly lower elevations and Spinks soils are commonly at slightly higher elevations. Surface runoff is slow to rapid depending upon the slope.
Permeability is moderate.
Soils are cultivated in most areas. Corn, small grains, soybeans, and legume-grass hay are the principal crops. Steep areas are in permanent pasture or forest. Wooded areas are in oaks, hickory and maple. The original vegetation was hardwood forest.