Soil series profile
Wharton soil series
Wharton is a moderately well drained soil with a silt loam surface, mapped on 718,549 acres in 91 counties across 7 states. Hydrologic group C/D.
- Drainage class
- Moderately well drained >99% of mapped acres
- Hydrologic group
- C/D 68% of mapped acres
- Typical topsoil pH
- 5.0 very strongly acidic · range 4.8–5.6
- Mapped area
- 719k acres in 91 counties, 7 states
Typical Wharton profile
Texture and pH by depth
Show as a table
| Depth | Texture | pH | Clay | Sand | Organic matter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–9 in (Ap) | Silt loam | 5.6 | 18% | 29% | 2.5% |
| 9–16 in (Bt1) | Silt loam | 5.2 | 25% | 17% | 0.8% |
| 16–22 in (Bt2) | Silt loam | 5.1 | 26% | 12% | 0.5% |
| 22–31 in (Bt3) | Silt loam | 5.0 | 25% | 11% | 0.3% |
| 31–46 in (BC) | Silty clay loam | 5.2 | 34% | 15% | 0.2% |
| 46–69 in (C) | Channery silty clay loam | 4.8 | 29% | 19% | 0.2% |
| 69–79 in (Cr) | Bedrock | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported |
What this means
What Wharton soil means for gardens, lawns and septic systems
For gardens
Typical topsoil in Wharton soils is very strongly acidic: pH 5.0 (most land between 4.8 and 5.6). 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 Wharton acres: generally the easiest soil to garden, holding moisture without staying waterlogged. The most common surface texture is silt loam (96% of mapped Wharton acres).
>99% of mapped Wharton 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 35% 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 Wharton 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 Wharton soil is found
Mapped acres
Wharton is mapped in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Virginia and New York. The 60 counties with the most Wharton acres:
| County | Acres | Share of county land |
|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County, PA | 74,804 | 11.4% |
| Somerset County, PA | 57,918 | 8.6% |
| Clearfield County, PA | 53,431 | 7.4% |
| Indiana County, PA | 41,599 | 7.9% |
| Butler County, PA | 41,454 | 8.2% |
| Elk County, PA | 39,599 | 7.5% |
| Jackson County, OH | 37,543 | 14.0% |
| Cambria County, PA | 37,360 | 8.5% |
| Allegheny County, PA | 34,935 | 7.5% |
| Armstrong County, PA | 34,432 | 8.3% |
| Fayette County, PA | 30,317 | 6.0% |
| Vinton County, OH | 29,849 | 11.3% |
| Scioto County, OH | 29,175 | 7.5% |
| Beaver County, PA | 23,777 | 8.6% |
| Clarion County, PA | 17,823 | 4.6% |
| Clinton County, PA | 14,483 | 2.5% |
| Grant County, WV | 14,430 | 5.9% |
| Jefferson County, PA | 12,367 | 3.0% |
| Centre County, PA | 10,833 | 1.6% |
| Venango County, PA | 9,956 | 2.4% |
| Forest County, PA | 8,579 | 3.1% |
| Warren County, PA | 6,496 | 1.2% |
| Pike County, OH | 6,251 | 2.2% |
| Garrett County, MD | 5,216 | 1.2% |
| Cameron County, PA | 5,091 | 2.0% |
| Bedford County, PA | 4,110 | 0.6% |
| Allegany County, MD | 4,017 | 1.5% |
| McKean County, PA | 3,423 | 0.5% |
| Mineral County, WV | 2,818 | 1.5% |
| Lawrence County, PA | 2,711 | 1.2% |
| Taylor County, WV | 2,070 | 2.3% |
| Boone County, WV | 1,892 | 0.7% |
| Elliott County, KY | 1,690 | 1.1% |
| Fleming County, KY | 1,237 | 0.6% |
| Lincoln County, WV | 1,170 | 0.5% |
| Blair County, PA | 1,155 | 0.4% |
| Marion County, WV | 1,021 | 0.6% |
| Lewis County, KY | 938 | 0.3% |
| Huntingdon County, PA | 864 | 0.2% |
| Wirt County, WV | 839 | 0.7% |
| Buchanan County, VA | 827 | 0.3% |
| Monongalia County, WV | 771 | 0.4% |
| Jefferson County, WV | 737 | 0.7% |
| Gallia County, OH | 682 | 0.2% |
| Potter County, PA | 652 | 0.1% |
| Lawrence County, OH | 634 | 0.2% |
| Bath County, VA | 632 | 0.2% |
| Barbour County, WV | 629 | 0.4% |
| Highland County, VA | 534 | 0.2% |
| Wood County, WV | 497 | 0.2% |
| Hancock County, WV | 384 | 0.8% |
| Alleghany County, VA | 376 | 0.2% |
| Snyder County, PA | 334 | 0.2% |
| Ross County, OH | 292 | 0.1% |
| Noble County, OH | 243 | 0.1% |
| Athens County, OH | 230 | 0.1% |
| Fulton County, PA | 200 | 0.1% |
| Cattaraugus County, NY | 197 | 0.0% |
| Meigs County, OH | 180 | 0.1% |
| Franklin County, PA | 170 | 0.0% |
Septic absorption fields
NRCS rating, share of Wharton acres
Show as a table
| Category | Share of acres |
|---|---|
| Not limited | 0.0% |
| Somewhat limited | 0.0% |
| Very limited | 99.1% |
| Not rated | 0.9% |
Drainage, water table and flooding
Share of Wharton acres
- Depth to seasonal high water table
- About 1.7 feet (20 in) (median where reported); within 18 inches on 35% of acres.
- Flooding
- Not mapped as flooding on most acres.
- Slope
- Typically 6–20% (median 12%).
- Topsoil organic matter
- Median 2.5%.
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 | 99.2% |
| Somewhat poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Very poorly drained | 0.0% |
| Not rated | 0.8% |
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 | 31.1% |
| D: very slow infiltration (clayey, shallow or wet) | 0.2% |
| 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 | 67.9% |
| Not rated | 0.9% |
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 Wharton (component kind "Series") in SSURGO: 718,549 acres.
- Method
- Shares are by mapped acres of Wharton components. The profile comes from the single largest Wharton component. Full methodology.