Franklin County, Tennessee
The most common soil here is Baxter, on about 8% of the land: a gravelly silty clay loam, smooth and slightly sticky. Dickson and Hartsells come next.
About 51% of the land drains well, and 5% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 17% of it.
USDA rates 50% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 49% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 11% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 36% 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 Franklin County, Tennessee, 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 Well drained and the dominant hydrologic group is B (moderate infiltration). The most common soil order is Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates. 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 Franklin County, Tennessee. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockland, limestone, steep and very steep | 64K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Hartsells fine sandy loam, rolling and undulating phases | 21K | Well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Cumberland and Etowah silty clay loams, eroded undulating phase | 17K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Rockland, limestone, hilly and rolling | 16K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Water | 14K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Dickson silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes, eroded | 13K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Dickson silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes | 12K | Moderately well drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Emory silt loam | 11K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Muskingum stony fine sandy loam, hilly phase (Ramsey) | 11K | Somewhat excessively drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bouldery colluvium, Jefferson soil material (Bouldin) | 10K | Well drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Sengtown gravelly silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes, moderately eroded | 10K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Dewey silty clay loam, eroded undulating phase | 6K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Lawrence silt loam | 6K | Somewhat poorly drained | C/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Bodine cherty silt loam, eroded steep phase | 5K | Somewhat excessively drained | A | Very limited | Very limited |
| Rockland, sandstone, very steep | 5K | Not rated | Not rated | ||
| Whitwell loam | 5K | Moderately well drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Ooltewah silt loam (Hamblen) | 5K | Moderately well drained | B/D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Mountview silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes, eroded | 4K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Sengtown gravelly silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes | 4K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Cumberland and Etowah silty clay loams, eroded rolling phase | 4K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat 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 49% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.
Septic Systems
About 50% of soils have significant septic limitations, while others are more suitable. A perc test is essential — conditions vary across the area.
Gardening & Agriculture
Well-drained soils on sloped terrain — good for most plants but watch for erosion. Terracing, contour planting, and mulching help retain moisture and topsoil. Drip irrigation is more effective than sprinklers on slopes.