Soil series profile
Tallapoosa soil series
Tallapoosa is a well drained soil with a gravelly sandy loam surface, mapped on 810,449 acres in 26 counties across 3 states. Hydrologic group D.
- Drainage class
- Well drained 100% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- D >99% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 4.8 very strongly acidic · range 4.6–4.8
- Mapped area
- 810k acres in 26 counties, 3 states
Typical Tallapoosa profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 in (H1) | Gravelly sandy loam | 4.8 | 12% | 68% | 0.75% |
| 4–10 in (H2) | Gravelly loam | 4.8 | 24% | 39% | 0.25% |
| 10–19 in (H3) | Gravelly loam | 4.8 | 17% | 44% | 0.25% |
| 19–60 in (Cr) | Weathered bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Tallapoosa soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Tallapoosa soils is very strongly acidic: pH 4.8 (most land between 4.6 and 4.8). 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 Tallapoosa acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is fine sandy loam (24% of mapped Tallapoosa acres).
100% of mapped Tallapoosa 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 Tallapoosa 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 Tallapoosa soil is found
Mapped acres
Tallapoosa is mapped in Georgia, Alabama and Virginia.
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Gilmer County, GA | 103,855 | 38.3% |
| Cherokee County, GA | 88,845 | 33.7% |
| Haralson County, GA | 78,020 | 43.4% |
| Talladega County, AL | 69,209 | 16.7% |
| Pickens County, GA | 68,570 | 46.8% |
| Randolph County, AL | 62,955 | 18.9% |
| Lumpkin County, GA | 42,445 | 23.2% |
| Coosa County, AL | 42,360 | 11.1% |
| Clay County, AL | 36,797 | 10.1% |
| Dawson County, GA | 35,305 | 26.2% |
| White County, GA | 29,685 | 19.3% |
| Cleburne County, AL | 24,982 | 8.7% |
| Tallapoosa County, AL | 23,573 | 5.7% |
| Elmore County, AL | 22,998 | 6.4% |
| Polk County, GA | 22,800 | 12.0% |
| Chilton County, AL | 17,715 | 4.6% |
| Carroll County, GA | 10,245 | 3.2% |
| Hall County, GA | 9,217 | 3.7% |
| Paulding County, GA | 8,530 | 4.4% |
| Bartow County, GA | 3,399 | 1.2% |
| Campbell County, VA | 2,897 | 1.0% |
| Lynchburg city, VA | 2,897 | 1.0% |
| Stephens County, GA | 1,522 | 1.3% |
| Banks County, GA | 1,339 | 0.9% |
| Barrow County, GA | 152 | 0.1% |
| Jackson County, GA | 136 | 0.1% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Tallapoosa 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 Tallapoosa acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- None reported within about 6.5 feet (median where reported).
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 13–43% (median 30%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 0.8%.
Drainage class
Show as a table
| 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
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 | 0.7% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 99.3% |
| 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 Tallapoosa (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 810,449 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Tallapoosa components. The profile comes from the single largest Tallapoosa component. Full methodology.