Soil survey area

Oldham County, Texas

Survey Area TX359• Texas
The short version

The most common soil here is Quay, on about 12% of the land: a loam, a balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. Mobeetie and Pullman come next.

About 99% of the land drains well.

USDA rates 47% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 29% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.

Worth knowing: 6% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 17% 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 ground underfoot

The soils you're most likely standing on

The biggest named soils in Oldham County, Texas, each drawn five feet deep from its official USDA description, in its recorded colors.

Quay
12% of the area
Loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Aridisols
Mobeetie
12% of the area
Fine sandy loam topsoil · well drained
Gritty and crumbly. Drains fast and warms early in spring.
Inceptisols
Pullman
7% of the area
Clay loam topsoil · well drained
Firm and a little sticky. Holds water and nutrients well.
Mollisols
Amarillo
6% of the area
Fine sandy loam topsoil · well drained
Gritty and crumbly. Drains fast and warms early in spring.
Alfisols
Tascosa
5% of the area
Very gravelly loam topsoil · well drained
A balanced mix that crumbles in your hand. The gardener's ideal.
Mollisols
Pantex
5% of the area
Silty clay loam topsoil · well drained
Smooth and slightly sticky. Holds a lot of water.
Mollisols

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 C (slow infiltration, moderate runoff). The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter. 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 Oldham County, Texas. Search your address to find the exact soil composition, drainage, and series details at your specific location.

Soil Map UnitAcresDrainageHydro GroupDwellingsSeptic
Quay-Glenrio-Burson association, rolling 105K Well drainedCSomewhat limitedSomewhat limited
Quay silty clay loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes 75K Well drainedCSomewhat limitedSomewhat limited
Mobeetie-Veal-Potter complex, 3 to 20 percent slopes 70K Well drainedASomewhat limitedSomewhat limited
Pantex silty clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes 59K Well drainedCVery limitedVery limited
Pullman clay loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes 57K Well drainedCSomewhat limitedVery limited
Tascosa gravelly loam, 3 to 30 percent slopes 49K Well drainedBVery limitedVery limited
Berda-Veal association, 3 to 8 percent slopes 49K Well drainedBNot limitedSomewhat limited
Mobeetie-Tascosa complex, 3 to 20 percent slopes 37K Well drainedAVery limitedVery limited
Amarillo fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes 34K Well drainedBNot limitedSomewhat limited
Acuff loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes 27K Well drainedBNot limitedSomewhat limited
Mobeetie fine sandy loam, cool, 5 to 12 percent slopes 25K Well drainedASomewhat limitedSomewhat limited
Burson-Knoco-Rock outcrop association, steep 23K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Mobeetie fine sandy loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes, cool 22K Well drainedANot limitedNot limited
Latom-Rock outcrop complex, 3 to 20 percent slopes 21K Well drainedDVery limitedVery limited
Lincoln soils, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded 19K Somewhat excessively drainedAVery limitedVery limited
Plemons loam, 5 to 8 percent slopes 19K Well drainedBSomewhat limitedVery limited
Likes loamy fine sand, 1 to 8 percent slopes 18K Somewhat excessively drainedANot limitedVery limited
Springer loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 percent slopes 16K Well drainedANot limitedVery limited
Mobeetie fine sandy loam, 1 to 3 percent slopes, cool 15K Well drainedANot limitedNot limited
Knoco-Badland association, rolling 14K Well drainedDVery limitedVery 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.

Mollisols
Fertile grassland soils with thick, dark topsoil. Among the best for agriculture, building, and gardening.
Alfisols
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Inceptisols
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Vertisols
High-clay soils that shrink and swell dramatically. Fertile but challenging for foundations and septic systems.

What This Means

Building & Foundations

About 29% of soils have significant building limitations, while the rest are generally suitable. Check specific sites carefully — conditions vary across the area.

Septic Systems

About 47% 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.

Look Up a Specific Address

📍