Soil series profile

Cookport soil series

Cookport is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 859,875 acres in 45 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group C/D.

#234 by mapped area fine-loamy Aquic Fragiudults (Ultisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: C/D
Typical topsoil pH: 4.1
Mapped area: 860k

Typical Cookport 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 Cookport horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–2 in (Oi)	Slightly decomposed plant material	4.3	Not reported	Not reported	69%
2–3 in (Oa)	Highly decomposed plant material	4.1	Not reported	Not reported	52%
3–6 in (A)	Silt loam	4.1	16%	32%	3.5%
6–10 in (E)	Silt loam	4.5	17%	32%	2%
10–24 in (Bt)	Loam	4.5	23%	40%	0.45%
24–40 in (Btx)	Channery loam	4.7	23%	45%	0.3%
40–60 in (C)	Very channery loam	4.7	21%	48%	0.15%
60–70 in (R)	Bedrock	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported

Representative values from the most extensive Cookport map unit (Cookport silt loam, 0 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony, survey area PA053). 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 Cookport soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Cookport soils is extremely acidic: pH 4.1 (most land between 4.1 and 5.0). 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 >99% of mapped Cookport acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (44% of mapped Cookport acres).

>99% of mapped Cookport 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.

A seasonal high water table comes within 18 inches of the surface on 79% of mapped acres, often in spring. Basements, sump pumps and lawns in low spots feel it first.

For a septic system

For conventional septic absorption fields, NRCS rates >99% of the acres in mapped Cookport 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 Cookport soil is found

Mapped acres

Cookport is mapped in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Ohio.

Counties with the most mapped Cookport soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
McKean County, PA	111,636	17.8%
Elk County, PA	82,186	15.5%
Forest County, PA	80,881	29.6%
Venango County, PA	72,827	17.2%
Cambria County, PA	69,835	16.0%
Clinton County, PA	68,140	12.0%
Clearfield County, PA	67,888	9.4%
Warren County, PA	46,654	8.3%
Clarion County, PA	38,557	10.0%
Garrett County, MD	35,956	8.0%
Somerset County, PA	33,651	5.0%
Jefferson County, PA	24,274	5.8%
Cameron County, PA	22,093	8.7%
Butler County, PA	21,965	4.4%
Indiana County, PA	18,824	3.6%
Lycoming County, PA	13,842	1.8%
Fayette County, PA	12,052	2.4%
Centre County, PA	11,140	1.6%
Carbon County, PA	5,212	2.2%
Potter County, PA	3,170	0.5%
Bedford County, PA	2,940	0.5%
Westmoreland County, PA	2,356	0.4%
Huntingdon County, PA	2,336	0.4%
Tucker County, WV	1,787	0.8%
Preston County, WV	1,763	0.5%
Barbour County, WV	1,422	0.8%
Greenbrier County, WV	1,375	0.3%
Taylor County, WV	1,100	1.2%
Tioga County, PA	1,030	0.1%
Fulton County, PA	973	0.4%
Armstrong County, PA	496	0.1%
Monroe County, WV	346	0.1%
Randolph County, WV	267	0.1%
Beaver County, PA	190	0.1%
Blair County, PA	180	0.1%
Schuylkill County, PA	147	0.0%
Harrison County, WV	99	0.0%
Columbiana County, OH	98	0.0%
Tuscarawas County, OH	88	0.0%
Allegany County, MD	83	0.0%
Allegheny County, PA	9	0.0%
Lawrence County, PA	6	0.0%
Carroll County, OH	1	0.0%
Holmes County, OH	0	0.0%
Stark County, OH	0	0.0%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Cookport acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited >99%

Not rated <1%

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

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Septic tank absorption field rating across mapped Cookport acres.
Category	Share of acres
Not limited	0.0%
Somewhat limited	0.0%
Very limited	99.9%
Not rated	0.1%

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Cookport acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 1.3 feet (16 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 79% of acres.
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 4–17% (median 5%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3.5%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained >99%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

Not rated <1%

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

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Drainage class across mapped Cookport acres.
Category	Share of acres
Excessively drained	0.0%
Somewhat excessively drained	0.0%
Well drained	0.0%
Moderately well drained	99.8%
Somewhat poorly drained	0.0%
Poorly drained	0.0%
Very poorly drained	0.0%
Not rated	0.1%

Hydrologic soil group

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 14%

D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) 30%

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 56%

Not rated <1%

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

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Hydrologic soil group across mapped Cookport acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	13.5%
D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet)	30.1%
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	56.2%
Not rated	0.1%

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 Cookport (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 859,875 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Cookport components. The profile comes from the single largest Cookport component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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