Soil series profile
Craven soil series
Craven is a moderately well drained soil with a fine sandy loam surface, mapped on 287,390 acres in 36 counties across 4 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D 88% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.0 very strongly acidic · range 5.0–5.5
- Mapped area
- 287k acres in 36 counties, 4 states
Typical Craven profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–7 in (Ap) | Fine sandy loam | 5.0 | 15% | 55% | 1.25% |
| 7–9 in (E) | Fine sandy loam | 5.0 | 14% | 55% | 1.25% |
| 9–54 in (Bt) | Clay | 4.5 | 48% | 20% | 0.25% |
| 54–80 in (C) | Sandy loam | 4.5 | 19% | 60% | 0.25% |
What this means
What Craven soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Craven soils is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0 (most land between 5.0 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 100% of mapped Craven acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (80% of mapped Craven acres).
100% of mapped Craven acres is moderately well to excessively drained, which suits most garden plants.
For lawns and yards
On 100% 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 Craven 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.
Where Craven soil is found
Mapped acres
Craven is mapped in North Carolina, Virginia, Alabama and South Carolina.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Hertford County, NC | 43,300 | 21.2% |
| Northampton County, NC | 33,089 | 10.7% |
| Bertie County, NC | 32,372 | 8.0% |
| Beaufort County, NC | 19,587 | 4.0% |
| Sussex County, VA | 16,872 | 6.5% |
| Surry County, VA | 15,748 | 10.7% |
| Craven County, NC | 15,525 | 3.9% |
| Gates County, NC | 13,902 | 7.0% |
| Greensville County, VA | 12,183 | 7.8% |
| Martin County, NC | 11,612 | 4.3% |
| Pitt County, NC | 11,152 | 2.9% |
| Jones County, NC | 9,982 | 3.6% |
| Charles City County, VA | 7,577 | 7.8% |
| Southampton County, VA | 6,669 | 1.9% |
| Onslow County, NC | 5,966 | 1.3% |
| Newport News city, VA | 3,926 | 12.2% |
| King and Queen County, VA | 3,129 | 1.9% |
| New Kent County, VA | 2,876 | 2.7% |
| Gloucester County, VA | 2,870 | 2.3% |
| Escambia County, AL | 2,336 | 0.4% |
| Lenoir County, NC | 2,299 | 1.0% |
| King George County, VA | 2,229 | 2.3% |
| Columbus County, NC | 1,812 | 0.3% |
| Cumberland County, NC | 1,727 | 0.5% |
| Lexington County, SC | 1,625 | 0.4% |
| Pamlico County, NC | 1,568 | 0.8% |
| Pender County, NC | 1,542 | 0.3% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 1,443 | 1.2% |
| Northumberland County, VA | 583 | 0.6% |
| Lancaster County, VA | 522 | 0.9% |
| Duplin County, NC | 400 | 0.1% |
| Stafford County, VA | 347 | 0.2% |
| Emporia city, VA | 240 | 18.0% |
| Carteret County, NC | 202 | 0.1% |
| Hampton city, VA | 118 | 0.4% |
| Franklin city, VA | 59 | 2.7% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Craven acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 100.0% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Craven acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 2.0 feet (24 in) (median where reported).
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 0–8% (median 3%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 1.2%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Somewhat excessively drained | 0.0% |
| Well drained | 0.0% |
| Moderately well drained | 100.0% |
| 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 | 0.0% |
| C: slow infiltration | 11.9% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 88.1% |
| 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 | 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 Craven (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 287,390 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Craven components. The profile comes from the single largest Craven component. Full methodology.