Gulf County, Florida
The most common soil here is Pelham, on about 7% of the land: a loamy sand, gritty and loose. Plummer and Surrency come next.
About 2% of the land drains well, and 67% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 67% of it.
USDA rates 69% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 66% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 20% of the land floods occasionally or more.
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 Gulf 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 Gulf 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waters of the Gulf of America | 144K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Pelham loamy fine sand | 37K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Plummer fine sand | 28K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rains fine sandy loam | 20K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pickney and Rutlege soils, depressional | 20K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Surrency mucky fine sand, depressional | 18K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Leon fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 17K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Scranton fine sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes | 15K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Romalea-Opilwa-Maurepas complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 14K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Leefield loamy fine sand | 14K | Somewhat poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Croatan-Surrency complex, frequently flooded | 13K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pantego and Bayboro soils, depressional | 13K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pickney-Pamlico complex, depressional | 13K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Brickyard silty clay, frequently flooded | 11K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Albany sand | 10K | Somewhat poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Maurepas muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded | 10K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Alapaha loamy fine sand | 9K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Meggett fine sandy loam, occasionally flooded | 9K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Meadowbrook fine sand, occasionally flooded | 8K | Poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Brickyard, Chowan, and Kenner soils, frequently flooded | 7K | Very poorly drained | D | Very 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 66% 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 69% 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.