Soils in Mercer County, New Jersey

Mercer County, New Jersey has 76,412 acres of well-drained soil across 185 distinct soil map units. The map below shows every NRCS soil map unit inside the county boundary.

Mercer County, New Jersey at a glance

Well-drained land76,412 acres
Share of mapped soil that is well drained52.1%
Poorly drained land37,278 acres
Most common drainage classWell drained — 69,490 acres
Distinct soil map units185
Largest soil map unitBucks silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 10,111 acres
Share with hydrologic soil group A or B (high infiltration)40.6%
Typical shallowest annual water table12 in below the surface

Mercer County, New Jersey is home to 399,289 residents. Land Owl's soils layer records the following within the county boundary — Well-drained land: 76,412 acres. Share of mapped soil that is well drained: 52.1%. Poorly drained land: 37,278 acres. Most common drainage class: Well drained — 69,490 acres. Distinct soil map units: 185. Largest soil map unit: Bucks silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 10,111 acres. Share with hydrologic soil group A or B (high infiltration): 40.6%. Typical shallowest annual water table: 12 in below the surface. Every feature shown on the map above is clickable, and the figures on this page are derived from the same data the map renders, so they always agree. A free Land Owl account adds parcel boundaries, ownership records, flood zones, wetlands and topography over the same view.

Frequently asked questions

What are the soils like in Mercer County, New Jersey?
The USDA soil survey maps 76,412 acres of Mercer County, New Jersey as well drained and 37,278 acres as poorly drained. Drainage class and hydrologic soil group are the two properties that most often decide whether a rural lot can take a septic system and a driveway.
Is this soil map free to use?
Yes. This map is free to view. A free Land Owl account unlocks the other data layers, parcel boundaries and ownership records.
Where does this data come from?
Land Owl maps soils from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service SSURGO soil survey. SSURGO describes soil MAP UNITS at survey scale — it is a screening tool for shortlisting land, not a substitute for a site-specific soil evaluation or a septic percolation test, both of which your health department will want before it permits a system.
Can I use this soil map to tell whether land will perc?
It is the right place to start and the wrong place to finish. Drainage class and hydrologic soil group tell you which parcels are worth a site visit, but a health department permits a septic system on a percolation test dug on the actual lot, not on the survey.

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