Vanmeter soils are lower on the slopes and formed in residuum weathered from calcareous shale. They are locally above Hennepin soils where glacio-fluvial sediments have covered the till. Hickory, Hochheim, Miami, Russell, and Strawn soils have argillic horizons and are upslope. In addition, Hochheim soils have a mollic epipedon, and Russell soils are fine-silty. Shoals soils formed in loamy alluvium on flood plains down slope from Hennepin soils.
Surface runoff is rapid on the lesser slopes and very rapid on the steeper slopes.
Permeability is moderate or moderately slow. Most areas are used for woodland or pastureland. Native vegetation is deciduous hardwood forest. The Hennepin soils are of large extent. Shelby County, Illinois, 1932.