United States Soil Surveys
The most common soil here is Valentine, on about under 1% of the land: a fine sand, loose sand that holds almost no water. Cecil and E45-Arctic dwarf scrub-gravelly frozen circles come next.
About 66% of the land drains well, and 17% stays wet for long stretches; groundwater comes within two feet of the surface under 23% of it.
USDA rates 0% of the land very limited for a standard septic drain field, and 0% very limited for homes with basements. That means extra cost or special design, not that it can't be done.
Worth knowing: 12% of the land floods occasionally or more, and bedrock lies within 40 inches under 25% 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 United States, 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.
United States has 1 USDA soil survey areas covering a wide range of landscapes and soil conditions. The most common soil order is Mollisols — grassland soils with a thick, dark, fertile topsoil rich in organic matter, making up roughly 28% of surveyed soils. Alfisols — moderately leached forest soils with a clay-enriched subsoil account for another 16%.
In terms of drainage, 66% of United States soils are classified as well drained. About 18% 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.