Soils in Somerset County, New Jersey

Somerset County, New Jersey has 109,322 acres of well-drained soil across 156 distinct soil map units. The map below shows every NRCS soil map unit inside the county boundary.

Somerset County, New Jersey at a glance

Well-drained land109,322 acres
Share of mapped soil that is well drained56.6%
Poorly drained land45,104 acres
Most common drainage classWell drained — 90,697 acres
Distinct soil map units156
Largest soil map unitPenn silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 15,531 acres
Share with hydrologic soil group A or B (high infiltration)23.2%
Typical shallowest annual water table18 in below the surface

Somerset County, New Jersey is home to 356,486 residents. Land Owl's soils layer records the following within the county boundary — Well-drained land: 109,322 acres. Share of mapped soil that is well drained: 56.6%. Poorly drained land: 45,104 acres. Most common drainage class: Well drained — 90,697 acres. Distinct soil map units: 156. Largest soil map unit: Penn silt loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes — 15,531 acres. Share with hydrologic soil group A or B (high infiltration): 23.2%. Typical shallowest annual water table: 18 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 Somerset County, New Jersey?
The USDA soil survey maps 109,322 acres of Somerset County, New Jersey as well drained and 45,104 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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