Currituck County, North Carolina
The most common soil here is Kill Devil, on about 8% of the land. Roanoke and Pine Island come next.
About 6% of the land drains well, and 40% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 68% of it.
USDA rates 48% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 44% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 39% 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 Currituck County, North Carolina, 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 Subaqueous and the dominant hydrologic group is D (very slow infiltration, high runoff). 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 Currituck County, North Carolina. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 81K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Roanoke fine sandy loam | 28K | Poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Pine Island fine sand, 0 to 1 meter water depth | 23K | Subaqueous | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Kill Devil silt loam, 1 to 2 meter water depth | 21K | Subaqueous | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Trinity Harbor fine sand, 1 to 2 meter water depth | 16K | Subaqueous | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Dare muck | 14K | Very poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dorovan mucky peat | 11K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ponzer muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded | 11K | Very poorly drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Whalehead fine sand, 0 to 1 meter water depth | 9K | Subaqueous | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Portsmouth fine sandy loam | 9K | Very poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Conetoe loamy sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 8K | Well drained | A | Not limited | Very limited |
| Tomotley fine sandy loam | 8K | Poorly drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Sandbridge mucky peat, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 7K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cape Fear loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely flooded | 6K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Wasda muck | 6K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Kill Devil silt loam, 2 to 3 meter water depth | 5K | Subaqueous | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Goosecastle mucky peat, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 5K | Very poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dragston loamy fine sand | 5K | Somewhat poorly drained | A/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| False Cape loamy sand, 0 to 1 meter water depth | 5K | Subaqueous | D | Not rated | Not rated |
| Coratank muck, 0 to 1 percent slopes, very frequently flooded | 5K | Very poorly drained | C/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 44% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 48% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
Gardening & Agriculture
Drainage is generally favorable for gardening. Adding compost and mulch will improve fertility and water retention. Test your soil's pH before planting — most vegetables prefer 6.0-7.0.