Soil series profile
Altavista soil series
Altavista is a moderately well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 290,866 acres in 139 counties across 6 states. Hydrologic group C.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C 95% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.0 very strongly acidic · range 5.0–6.0
- Mapped area
- 291k acres in 139 counties, 6 states
Typical Altavista profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–8 in (Ap) | Fine sandy loam | 5.0 | 15% | 69% | 1.75% |
| 8–15 in (E) | Fine sandy loam | 5.0 | 15% | 69% | 0.5% |
| 15–42 in (Bt) | Sandy clay loam | 4.8 | 27% | 56% | 0.25% |
| 42–80 in (C) | Sandy loam | 5.0 | 15% | 66% | 0.25% |
What this means
What Altavista soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Altavista soils is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0 (most land between 5.0 and 6.0). Most vegetables and lawn grasses do best around 6.0 to 7.0, so lime is often needed; blueberries, azaleas and rhododendrons like it as it is.
Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 87% of mapped Altavista acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (65% of mapped Altavista acres).
100% of mapped Altavista acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 99% of mapped acres, rain soaks in slowly (hydrologic groups C and D, including dual groups that are D until drained). Expect runoff and puddles after heavy rain: core-aerate compacted lawns and keep ground sloping away from foundations.
For a septic system
For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Altavista soils very limited, <1% somewhat limited and 0% not limited.
Where the soil is very limited (slow permeability, a high water table, flooding, shallow bedrock or steep slopes), alternative systems such as mound or sand-filter designs are common and cost more.
Flooding is mapped on 65% of the acres (15% occasional, <1% frequent).
Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.
Where Altavista soil is found
Mapped acres
Altavista is mapped in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. The 60 counties with the most Altavista acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Southampton County, VA | 16,496 | 4.8% |
| Caroline County, VA | 14,599 | 4.6% |
| Edgecombe County, NC | 14,200 | 4.6% |
| Craven County, NC | 8,433 | 2.1% |
| Pamlico County, NC | 7,496 | 3.9% |
| Johnston County, NC | 7,456 | 1.6% |
| King William County, VA | 7,197 | 5.0% |
| Carteret County, NC | 7,097 | 2.3% |
| Beaufort County, NC | 6,834 | 1.4% |
| Cumberland County, NC | 6,756 | 1.8% |
| Halifax County, NC | 6,482 | 1.6% |
| Northampton County, NC | 5,844 | 1.9% |
| Greensville County, VA | 5,804 | 3.7% |
| Bertie County, NC | 5,332 | 1.3% |
| Wilson County, NC | 5,248 | 2.4% |
| Sussex County, VA | 5,231 | 2.0% |
| Washington County, NC | 4,799 | 2.3% |
| Pitt County, NC | 4,459 | 1.2% |
| Kershaw County, SC | 4,355 | 0.9% |
| New Kent County, VA | 4,013 | 3.7% |
| Harnett County, NC | 4,003 | 1.1% |
| Wake County, NC | 3,905 | 0.7% |
| McDuffie County, GA | 3,820 | 2.3% |
| Norfolk city, VA | 3,751 | 14.2% |
| King George County, VA | 3,590 | 3.7% |
| Clay County, AL | 3,488 | 1.0% |
| Nash County, NC | 3,449 | 1.1% |
| Richland County, SC | 3,234 | 0.7% |
| Bladen County, NC | 3,043 | 0.6% |
| Autauga County, AL | 2,994 | 1.0% |
| Franklin County, NC | 2,958 | 1.0% |
| Warren County, GA | 2,885 | 1.6% |
| Fulton County, GA | 2,812 | 0.9% |
| Chowan County, NC | 2,786 | 2.8% |
| Hampton city, VA | 2,677 | 9.4% |
| Gates County, NC | 2,537 | 1.3% |
| Tyrrell County, NC | 2,453 | 1.0% |
| Cobb County, GA | 2,437 | 1.1% |
| Hanover County, VA | 2,397 | 0.9% |
| Currituck County, NC | 2,394 | 0.9% |
| Perquimans County, NC | 2,358 | 1.6% |
| Coweta County, GA | 2,340 | 0.8% |
| Camden County, NC | 2,129 | 1.5% |
| Martin County, NC | 1,968 | 0.7% |
| Macon County, AL | 1,927 | 0.6% |
| Calhoun County, AL | 1,831 | 0.5% |
| Morgan County, GA | 1,820 | 0.9% |
| Chilton County, AL | 1,814 | 0.5% |
| Charlotte County, VA | 1,801 | 0.7% |
| Louisa County, VA | 1,754 | 0.6% |
| Durham County, NC | 1,734 | 1.0% |
| Carroll County, GA | 1,720 | 0.5% |
| Meriwether County, GA | 1,635 | 0.5% |
| Portsmouth city, VA | 1,586 | 13.4% |
| Warren County, NC | 1,556 | 0.6% |
| Fayette County, GA | 1,530 | 1.2% |
| Appomattox County, VA | 1,527 | 0.8% |
| Montgomery County, AL | 1,468 | 0.3% |
| Granville County, NC | 1,467 | 0.4% |
| Henrico County, VA | 1,427 | 1.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Altavista acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.1% |
| Very limited | 99.8% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Altavista acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 3% of acres.
- Flooding
- Mapped as flooding on 65% of acres (15% occasional, <1% frequent).
- Slope
- Typically 1–4% (median 1%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.8%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.1% |
| Moderately well drained | 99.8% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
Hydrologic soil group
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) | 0.0% |
| B: moderate infiltration | 1.1% |
| C: slow infiltration | 95.0% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.0% |
| A/D: D as is, A if drained | 1.1% |
| B/D: D as is, B if drained | 2.7% |
| C/D: D as is, C if drained | 0.0% |
Sources & data dates
- Source
- USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO), queried through Soil Data Access. Public domain.
- Data date
- SSURGO as published on November 3, 2026 (most recent survey area update October 26, 2026). NRCS refreshes SSURGO each October.
- Scope
- All map unit components named Altavista (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 290,866 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Altavista components. The profile comes from the single largest Altavista component. Full methodology.