North Carolina Soil Surveys

North Carolina has 100 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Ultisols — strongly weathered soils with clay-enriched subsoils, common in warm humid climates, making up roughly 58% of surveyed soils. Inceptisols — young soils with minimal horizon development but more than Entisols account for another 23%.

In terms of drainage, 55% of North Carolina soils are classified as well drained. About 28% of soils have some form of poor drainage, which is important to consider for septic systems and foundations. Drainage class affects everything from septic system design to basement feasibility to garden planning. Use the survey area pages below to see drainage details for specific counties, or look up any address for an exact soil profile.