Soil series profile

Caroline soil series

Caroline is a well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 68,200 acres in 13 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group C.

#4716 by mapped area fine Typic Paleudults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Well drained
Hydrologic group: C
Typical topsoil pH: 4.6
Mapped area: 68k

Typical Caroline profile

Texture and pH by depth

Depth to scale. More strongly shaded layers hold more clay. Horizon names are the soil survey's (A = topsoil, B = subsoil, C = parent material).

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Typical Caroline horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–4 in (A)	Fine sandy loam	5.5	13%	70%	1.25%
4–16 in (E)	Fine sandy loam	4.7	10%	64%	0.25%
16–19 in (BE)	Sandy clay loam	4.7	27%	55%	0.25%
19–32 in (Bt)	Clay	4.7	50%	22%	0.25%
32–81 in (BC)	Sandy clay loam	4.7	27%	55%	0.25%

Representative values from the most extensive Caroline map unit (Caroline fine sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes, survey area SC015). Other map units of this series vary within the series range.

Stock photo for illustration, not a sample of this soil series. Credit on the Sources & method page.

What this means

What Caroline soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Caroline soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.6 (most land between 4.6 and 5.5). 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 85% of mapped Caroline acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (66% of mapped Caroline acres).

100% of mapped Caroline acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.

For lawns and yards

On 90% 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 100% of the acres in mapped Caroline soils very limited, 0% 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.

Only a licensed site evaluation or perc test at the actual lot decides whether a system is allowed and which design.

Generated from the mapped numbers above using fixed rules, not a site visit. See how these notes are written.

Where Caroline soil is found

Mapped acres

Caroline is mapped in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Counties with the most mapped Caroline soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Northampton County, NC	12,721	4.1%
Stafford County, VA	11,351	7.6%
Berkeley County, SC	10,105	1.5%
Henrico County, VA	6,554	5.1%
King George County, VA	6,321	6.5%
Hertford County, NC	5,478	2.7%
New Kent County, VA	5,370	5.0%
Charles City County, VA	4,034	4.2%
Lunenburg County, VA	2,622	1.1%
Surry County, VA	1,606	1.1%
Prince William County, VA	1,282	0.7%
Lancaster County, VA	452	0.8%
Northumberland County, VA	305	0.3%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Caroline acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Caroline acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Caroline acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	100.0%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Caroline acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 3.9 feet (47 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 1–14% (median 4%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 1.2%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 100%

Moderately well drained 0%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Drainage class across mapped Caroline acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Drainage class across mapped Caroline acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	100.0%
Moderately well drained	0.0%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%

Hydrologic soil group

A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly) 0%

B: moderate infiltration 10%

C: slow infiltration 90%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 0%

A/D: D as is, A if drained 0%

B/D: D as is, B if drained 0%

C/D: D as is, C if drained 0%

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Caroline acres. Scale 0 to 100% of mapped land.

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Caroline acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	9.6%
C: slow infiltration	90.4%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	0.0%
A/D: D as is, A if drained	0.0%
B/D: D as is, B if drained	0.0%
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 Caroline (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 68,200 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Caroline components. The profile comes from the single largest Caroline component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

Full narrative description: USDA Official Soil Series Description for Caroline.