Dixie County, Florida
The most common soil here is Leon, on about 13% of the land: a sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Meadowbrook and Chaires come next.
About 4% of the land drains well, and 86% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 84% of it.
USDA rates 96% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 84% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 37% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 22% 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 Dixie County, Florida, 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.
The biggest mapped areas
The dominant drainage class is Poorly drained and the dominant hydrologic group is A/D (varies with drainage). The most common soil order is Entisols — young soils with little profile development, often on floodplains or steep slopes. This report summarizes the major soil map units across the survey area to help you understand what to expect when buying, building, or gardening in Dixie County, Florida. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.
| Soil Map Unit | Acres | Drainage | Hydro Group | Dwellings | Septic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wekiva-Shired-Tooles complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded | 63K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Leon-Leon, depressional complex | 52K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Clara, Oldtown, and Meadowbrook soils, depressional | 33K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chaires, limestone substratum-Leon complex | 31K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Meadowbrook-Meadowbrook, depressional complex, occasionally flooded | 30K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tooles-Nutall complex, frequently flooded | 20K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Chaires-Chaires, depressional complex | 19K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bayvi muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 17K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Otela limestone substratum-Chiefland-Kureb complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 17K | Moderately well drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Waters of the Gulf of America | 15K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Clara and Meadowbrook soils, frequently flooded | 12K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Meadowbrook fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 12K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mandarin-Lutterloh, limestone substratum complex | 11K | Somewhat poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Penney-Otela, limestone substratum complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 11K | Excessively drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Chaires, limestone substratum-Meadowbrook complex | 11K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Tooles-Wekiva complex | 10K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Albany-Ridgewood complex | 9K | Somewhat poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ortega-Blanton complex, 0 to 5 percent slopes | 8K | Moderately well drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Yellowjacket and Maurepas soils, frequently flooded | 7K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ridgewood fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 7K | Somewhat poorly drained | A | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
Soil Orders in This Area
The USDA classifies every soil into one of 12 soil orders. Here are the dominant orders found in this survey area.
What This Means
Building & Foundations
About 84% of soils are rated "very limited" for dwellings with basements. Specific challenges include poor drainage in some areas, flood-prone areas. A geotechnical assessment is recommended before building.
Septic Systems
About 96% of soils are rated "very limited" for septic absorption fields. Poorly drained soils can't absorb septic effluent effectively. Engineered or alternative systems are frequently required. Always get a professional perc test before purchasing land that needs septic.
Gardening & Agriculture
Many soils hold water for extended periods. Raised beds are highly recommended to improve drainage for vegetables. Well-adapted native plants and water-loving species will do best in natural conditions.