Pennsylvania Soil Surveys
Pennsylvania has 62 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 35% of surveyed soils. Inceptisols — young soils with minimal horizon development but more than Entisols account for another 34%.
In terms of drainage, 54% of Pennsylvania soils are classified as well drained. 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.
Soil Types
Ultisols
35% of surveyed soils
Strongly weathered clay soils of the Southeast. Acidic and naturally low in nutrients. Clay subsoil can slow drainage.
Inceptisols
34% of surveyed soils
Young but developing soils found in mountains and river terraces. Variable properties — check drainage and bedrock depth.
Alfisols
22% of surveyed soils
Moderately weathered forest soils with clay-enriched subsoil. Productive for agriculture, generally good for building and septic.
Entisols
5% of surveyed soils
Young soils with little development — found on floodplains, dunes, and steep slopes. Properties vary widely by setting.
Survey Areas
Adams County, PennsylvaniaAllegheny County, PennsylvaniaArmstrong County, PennsylvaniaBeaver County, PennsylvaniaBedford County, PennsylvaniaBerks County, PennsylvaniaBlair County, PennsylvaniaBradford and Sullivan Counties, PennsylvaniaBucks County, PennsylvaniaButler County, PennsylvaniaCambria County, PennsylvaniaCameron and Elk Counties, PennsylvaniaCarbon County, PennsylvaniaCentre County, PennsylvaniaChester County, PennsylvaniaClarion County, PennsylvaniaClearfield County, PennsylvaniaClinton County, PennsylvaniaColumbia County, PennsylvaniaCrawford County, PennsylvaniaCumberland County, PennsylvaniaDauphin County, PennsylvaniaDelaware County, PennsylvaniaErie County, PennsylvaniaFayette County, PennsylvaniaFranklin County, PennsylvaniaFulton County, PennsylvaniaGreene and Washington Counties, PennsylvaniaHuntingdon County, PennsylvaniaIndiana County, PennsylvaniaJefferson County, PennsylvaniaJuniata and Mifflin Counties, PennsylvaniaLackawanna County, PennsylvaniaLancaster County, PennsylvaniaLawrence County, PennsylvaniaLebanon County, PennsylvaniaLehigh County, PennsylvaniaLuzerne County, PennsylvaniaLycoming County, PennsylvaniaMcKean County, PennsylvaniaMercer County, PennsylvaniaMonroe County, PennsylvaniaMontgomery County, PennsylvaniaMontour County, PennsylvaniaNorthampton County, PennsylvaniaNorthumberland County, PennsylvaniaPerry County, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia County, PennsylvaniaPike County, PennsylvaniaPotter County, PennsylvaniaSchuylkill County, PennsylvaniaSnyder County, PennsylvaniaSomerset County, PennsylvaniaSusquehanna County, PennsylvaniaTioga County, PennsylvaniaUnion County, PennsylvaniaVenango County, PennsylvaniaWarren and Forest Counties, PennsylvaniaWayne County, PennsylvaniaWestmoreland County, PennsylvaniaWyoming County, PennsylvaniaYork County, Pennsylvania