Soil series profile

Hilton soil series

Hilton is a moderately well drained soil with a loam surface, mapped on 184,218 acres in 14 counties in NY. Hydrologic group B/D.

#1982 by mapped area fine-loamy Oxyaquic Hapludalfs (Alfisols)

Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Hydrologic group: B/D
Typical topsoil pH: 5.8
Mapped area: 184k

Typical Hilton 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).

Show as a table

Typical Hilton horizons (representative values)
Depth	Texture	pH	Clay	Sand	Organic matter
0–9 in (Ap)	Loam	5.8	17%	41%	3%
9–17 in (E)	Loam	5.8	17%	41%	1.5%
17–24 in (Bt/E)	Gravelly loam	6.3	22%	37%	1.5%
24–36 in (Bt)	Gravelly loam	7.0	22%	37%	1.5%
36–54 in (C1)	Gravelly loam	7.6	17%	41%	0.5%
54–79 in (C2)	Gravelly loam	8.2	17%	41%	0.5%

Representative values from the most extensive Hilton map unit (Hilton loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, survey area NY073). 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 Hilton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems

For gardens

Typical topsoil in Hilton soils is moderately acidic: pH 5.8. Many vegetables grow well here, and some gardens benefit from a little lime. Test before adding any.

Loamy topsoil (loam, silt loam and similar) covers 100% of mapped Hilton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is loam (66% of mapped Hilton acres).

100% of mapped Hilton 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 Hilton 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 Hilton soil is found

Mapped acres

Hilton is mapped in New York.

Counties with the most mapped Hilton soil
County	Acres	Share of county land
Monroe County, NY	38,112	9.1%
Orleans County, NY	37,029	14.9%
Wayne County, NY	33,991	8.8%
Niagara County, NY	23,906	7.3%
Livingston County, NY	13,295	3.1%
Genesee County, NY	12,192	3.9%
Onondaga County, NY	9,984	2.0%
Cayuga County, NY	6,397	1.5%
Herkimer County, NY	4,245	0.5%
Madison County, NY	3,262	0.8%
Ontario County, NY	990	0.2%
Seneca County, NY	385	0.2%
Clinton County, NY	243	0.0%
Yates County, NY	187	0.1%

Septic absorption fields

NRCS rating, share of Hilton acres

Not limited 0%

Somewhat limited 0%

Very limited 100%

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

Show as a table

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

Drainage, water table and flooding

Share of Hilton acres

Depth to seasonal high water table: About 1.7 feet (20 in) (median where reported).
Flooding: Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
Slope: Typically 2–5% (median 5%).
Topsoil organic matter: Median 3%.

Drainage class

Excessively drained 0%

Somewhat excessively drained 0%

Well drained 0%

Moderately well drained 100%

Somewhat poorly drained 0%

Poorly drained 0%

Very poorly drained 0%

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

Show as a table

Drainage class across mapped Hilton acres.
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

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

B: moderate infiltration 0%

C: slow infiltration 2%

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 98%

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

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

Show as a table

Hydrologic soil group across mapped Hilton acres.
Category	Share of acres
A: fast infiltration (mostly sandy or gravelly)	0.0%
B: moderate infiltration	0.0%
C: slow infiltration	1.7%
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	98.3%
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 Hilton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 184,218 acres.
Method: Shares are by mapped acres of Hilton components. The profile comes from the single largest Hilton component. Full methodology.

Independent reference site. No government affiliation or endorsement.

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