Soil surveys and soil maps, published by the USDA since the late 1800s, depict, describe and analyze soils for their use as raw material and as structural support. Contemporary soil maps consist of aerial imagery overlaid with soil data; early editions laid soil data over a topographic map base. Soil maps are useful to a wide array of applications--land use, agriculture, engineering, development, conservation, recreation, and wildlife management, among others. UMCP's collection includes soil surveys and soil maps for most U.S. counties, some of which date back to the early 1900s.
