Dawson County, Texas
The most common soil here is Amarillo, on about 47% of the land: a fine sandy loam, gritty and crumbly. Patricia and Acuff come next.
About 96% of the land drains well.
USDA rates 16% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 11% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 1% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 1% 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 Dawson County, Texas, 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 Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil. 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 Dawson County, Texas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 147K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Patricia and Amarillo loamy fine sands, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 115K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Amarillo fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 99K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Acuff sandy clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 29K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Posey fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Midessa fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 10K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Estacado and Pep loams, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 9K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Lenorah-Hindman complex, 0 to 2 percent slopes, very rarely flooded | 8K | Moderately well drained | C | Very limited | Very limited |
| Portales loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 8K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Portales loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 8K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Berda-Paloduro complex, 1 to 5 percent slopes | 8K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Kimberson-Potter complex, 1 to 8 percent slopes | 8K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Arvana fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes | 7K | Well drained | C | Somewhat limited | Very limited |
| Midessa and Posey fine sandy loams, 3 to 8 percent slopes | 7K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Berda-Potter-Rock outcrop association, 5 to 45 percent slopes | 7K | Well drained | B | Very limited | Very limited |
| Brownfield fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 7K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Sharvana fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes | 6K | Well drained | D | Very limited | Very limited |
| Acuff loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 5K | Well drained | B | Not limited | Somewhat limited |
| Estacado loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes | 5K | Well drained | B | Somewhat limited | Somewhat limited |
| Nutivoli fine sand, 3 to 8 percent slopes | 5K | Excessively drained | A | Not 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
Most soils are generally favorable for residential construction. Standard foundations are usually viable, though site-specific evaluation is always recommended.
Septic Systems
Most soils are reasonably suitable for conventional septic systems, though site-specific conditions always matter. Get a perc test to confirm.
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.