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Soil Survey

What is a soil survey map?

Map sheets are made from aerial photographs of the county. On each sheet of a detailed map, soil areas are outlined and are identified by symbols. Soil scientists made this survey to learn what kind of soils are in Crawford County, where they are located and how they can be used. This is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Pennsylvania State University of Agriculture and the PA Department of Environmental Protection, State Conservation Commission.

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Where do you find the meaning of each symbol?

A “Soil Legend” sheet, “Brief Soil Descriptions,” and informational sheets about hydric or wet soils is given each person asking for a soil survey sheet of a specific area within the county. If you qualify for a Crawford County Soil Survey Book, there is a “Guide to Mapping Units” which can also be used to find information. This guide lists all the soils in the county, gives the capability classification of each and shows the page where each soil is described.

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Who would use a soil survey map sheet or book?

  1. Farmers and those who work with farmers can learn about use and management of the soils from soil descriptions.
  2. Foresters and others can refer to the section “Use of the Soils for Woodland,” where the soils of the county are rated according to their suitability for trees.
  3. Wildlife managers and others can find information about soils and wildlife in the section “Use of the Soils for Wildlife.”
  4. Community planners and others can read about soil properties that affect the choice of sites for dwellings, industrial buildings and recreation areas in the sections “Use of the Soils for Town and Country Planning” and “Use of the Soils for Recreation Development.”
  5. Engineers and builders can find, under “Engineering Use of the Soils,” tables that contain test data, estimates of soil properties, and information about soil features that affect engineering practices.
  6. Scientists and others can read about how the soils formed and how they are classified in the section “Formation, Morphology, and Classification of the Soils.”
  7. Newcomers in Crawford County may be especially interested in the section “General Soil Map,” where broad patterns of soils are described. They may also be interested in the information about the county given in the section “Environmental Factors Affecting Soil Use.”

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Crawford County Soil Survey

The Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) published the Crawford County Soil Survey in 1979. Soil survey reports were completed for most all counties, not only in Pennsylvania, but in the United States, during the 60-70’s. Over several years soil scientists observed the soils by digging test pits and performing visual inspection across the state. They classified and named the soils according to nationwide uniform procedures. This information was then compiled into survey books for each county.

Soil survey reports are still available through the Natural Resources Conservation Service, now located at 14699 North Main Street Extension in Meadville, PA. The reports are free of charge if picked up at the office, however there is a $5 shipping fee if they are mailed.

The book gives a general description of Crawford County followed by an explanation of how the survey was made. Included is a general soils map of the county and descriptions of each of the soil associations. The survey further describes each soil series and lists several soil features of those series. The remainder of the book is a compilation of maps that have the soil types overlain on top of aerial photographs.

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Crawford County Soils

Crawford County lies entirely in the glaciated part of the Allegheny Plateau, with greatly varying topography from east to west. The eastern portion of the county has irregular terrain with deeper valleys and steeper slopes and like most of the country it drains south into the Allegheny River system. The northwestern area of the county is quite flat and drains into Lake Erie. Due to this flat landscape and slow permeability of the sub soil a large portion of the northwest is very poorly drained. Nearly three fourths of the county consists of soils that are very poorly to somewhat poorly drained. 65% of the land area needs artificial drainage before it could be effectively used as farmland. Only about 10% is best suited for farming without any special management and about 20% is either too steep, stony or swampy for intensive use. 5% of the soils are droughty.

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Soil Drainage

Natural soil drainage refers to the conditions of frequency and duration of periods of saturation or partial saturation that existed during the development of the soil opposed to the altered drainage that is the result of artificial drainage or irrigation. Natural drainage is categorized into 7 classes.

  1. Excessively drained
  2. Somewhat excessively drained
  3. Well drained
  4. Moderately well drained
  5. Somewhat poorly drained
  6. Poorly drained
  7. Very poorly drained

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Soil Associations

There are 5 soil associations in the county:

  1. Venango-Frenchtown-Cambridge
  2. Holly-Red Hook- Chenango
  3. Valois-Cambridge
  4. Sheffield-Platea
  5. Hanover-Alvira.

The soil types of Crawford County include: (2012)

Soil Type Symbol Hydrologic Soil Group Capability Class
Canandaigua 348A D V w
Chippewa CpB D IV w
Fredon 320A B/D IV w
Gageville GaF C VII e
Mardin MaC D III e
Mardin 426B D II w
Mardin 426C D III e
Mardin 426D D IV e
Mill Mh D IV w
Otego Ot B/D II w
Pierpont PeB D II e 2
Pierpont PeC D III e
Pierpont PeD D IV e
Platea PlA D III w 2
Platea PlB D III w 2
Platea PlC D III w
Stanhope St C/D III w
Wick Wc D IV w
Aquolls-Eutrudepts Ax D IV w
Betheda BeD D IV e
Alden Ad D IV w 2
Alden mucky AaA D IV w
Alvira AvA C/D III w 3
Alvira AvB C/D III w 2
Braceville BrA C/D  II w 2
Braceville BrB C/D  II e 3
Cambridge CaA C/D II w 2
Cambridge CaB C/D II e 2
Cambridge CaC C/D III e 1
Cambridge CaD C/D IV e 1
Cambridge CbB C/D VI s 1
Cambridge CbD C/D VI s 2
Cambridge CcB C/D III w 1
Candice Cd D IV w 2
Caneadea CeA D III w 2
Caneadea CeB D III w 1
Carlisle muck CM A/D VII w 1
Chenango CoA A II s 1
Chenango CoB A II s 3
Chenango CoC A III e 3
Frenchtown FhA D III 3
Frenchtown FhB D III w 1
Frenchtown FvB D VII w 1
Halsey Ha C/D IV s 2
Hanover HnA C/D II w 2
Hanover HnB C/D II w 2
Hanover HnC C/D III e 2
Hanover HoB C/D VI e 1
Hanover HoD C/D VI s 1
Haven HvA B I s 2
Haven HvB B II e 1
Holly Hy B/D III w 1
Holly Hz B/D VI w 1
Philo Ph B II w 1
Platea PkB C/D III w 2
Pope Po B I 1
Redhook Rh B/D III w 2
Scio ScA B/D II w 2
Scio ScB B/D II e 2
Sheffield Sh D III w 3
Shelmadine SmA D IV w 1
Shelmadine SmB D IV w 1
Valois VaB B II e 1
Valois VaC B III e 1
Valois VaD B IV e 1
Valois VLF B VI e 1
Valois VmB B II e 2
Valois VmC B III e 2
Venango VnA C/D III w 2
Venango VnB C/D III w 2
Venango VnC C/D III e 4
Venango VoB C/D VI s 1
Venango VoC C/D VI s 1
Wyoming WyA A III s 1
Wyoming WyB A III s 1
Wyoming WyC A IV e 2
Wyoming WyD A VI e 1

 

Soil Type Symbol Hydrologic Soil Group Capability Class
Alden Ad D IV w 2
Alvira AvA C III w 3
Alvira AvB C III w 2
Braceville BrA C  II w 2
Braceville BrB C  II e 3
Cambridge CaA C II w 2
Cambridge CaB C II e 2
Cambridge CaC C III e 1
Cambridge CaD C IV e 1
Cambridge CbB C VI s 1
Cambridge CbD C VI s 2
Cambridge CcB C III w 1
Candice Cd D IV w 2
Caneadea CeA D III w 2
Caneadea CeB D III w 1
Carlisle muck CM D VII w 1
Chenango CoA A II s 1
Chenango CoB A II s 3
Chenango CoC A III e 3
Frenchtown FhA D III 3
Frenchtown FhB D III w 1
Frenchtown FvB D VII w 1
Halsey Ha D IV s 2
Hanover HnA C II w 2
Hanover HnB C II w 2
Hanover HnC C III e 2
Hanover HoB C VI e 1
Hanover HoD C VI s 1
Haven HvA B I s 2
Haven HvB B II e 1
Holly Hy D III w 1
Hz VI w 1
Philo Ph B II w 1
Platea PkB C/D III w 2
Pope Po B I 1
Redhook Rh C III w 2
Scio ScA B II w 2
Scio ScB B II e 2
Sheffield Sh D III w 3
Sheffield SmA D IV w 1
Shelmadine SmB D IV w 1
Valois VaB D II e 1
Valois VaC D III e 1
Valois VaD D IV e 1
Valois VLF D VI e 1
Valois VmB D II e 2
Valois VmC D III e 2
Venango VnA C III w 2
Venango VnB C III w 2
Venango VnC C III e 4
Venango VoB C VI s 1
Venango VoC C VI s 1
Wyoming WyA A III s 1
Wyoming WyB A III s 1
Wyoming WyC A IV e 2
Wyoming WyD A VI e 1

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Lists of Mapping Units that Qualify as Prime Farmland

426B

BrA

 Mardin

Braceville

 silt loam, 3-8% slope

gravelly loam, 0-3% slope
BrB Braceville gravelly loam, 3-8% slope
CaA Cambridge silt loam, 0-3% slope
CoA Chenango gravelly loam, 0-3% slope
CoB Chenango gravelly loam, 3-8% slope
HnA Hanover silt loam, 0-3% slope
HnB Hanover silt loam, 3-8% slope
HvA Haven silt loam, 0-3% slope
Ot

PeB

Ph

 Otega

Pierpont

Philo

 silt loam

silt loam

silt loam
Po Pope loam
ScA Scio silt loam, 0-3% slope
VaB Valois gravelly silt loam, 3-8% slope
VmB Valois-Cambridge complex, 3-8% slope

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Hydric Soils of Crawford County

AD

348A

 Alden silt loam

Canadaigua mucky silt loam
CD

Ax

 Canadice silt loam

Aquolls Eutrudepts complex
CM

CpB

 Carlisle Muck

Chippewa silt loam
FhA Frenchtown silt loam, 0-3% slope
FhB Frenchtown silt loam, 3-8% slope
FvB Frenchtown very stony silt loam, 0-8% slope
Ha Halsey silt loam
Hy Holly silt loam
Hz Holly silty clay loam
Mh Mill silt loam
SmA Shelmadine silt loam, 0-3% slope
SmB

St

Wc

 Shelmadine silt loam, 3-8% slope

Stanhope silt loam

Wick silt loam

 

 

This list of hydric soils contain soils that are sufficiently wet under undrained conditions to support the growth and regeneration of hydrophytic vegetation.

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Textural Classes

Soil is made up of sand, silt and clay particles. The relative proportions of these particles in a mass of soil is the soil texture. The basic textural classes in order of increasing proportion of fine particles are:

  • Sand
  • Loamy Sand
  • Sandy Loam
  • Loam
  • Silt Loam
  • Silt
  • Sandy Clay Loam
  • Clay Loam
  • Silty Clay Loam
  • Sandy Clay
  • Silty Clay
  • Clay
Range of Particle Sizes
Silt 0.002 – 0.05 mm
Sand 0.05 – 2.0 mm
Clay less than 0.002 mm

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Soil Descriptions for Crawford County

*Hydric soils are indicated by being underlined

Alden Soils

The Alden are deep, very poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till and local alluvium. They have a moderately slowly permeable subsoil and a water table at the surface during most of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and moderately slow permeability.

Ad Alden silt loam

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Alvira Soils

The Alvira soils are deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonal high water table at 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and slow permeability.

AvA Alvira silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
AvB Alvira silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Braceville Soils

The Braceville soils are deep, moderately well drained formed in materials weathered from water-sorted sand, silt, and gravel. They have a moderately slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonably high water table at 1.5 to 3.0 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and moderately slow permeability.

BrA Braceville gravelly loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
BrB Braceville gravelly loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Cambridge Soils

The Cambridge are deep, moderately well drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a very slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonably high water table at 1.5 to 3.0 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and very slow permeability.

CaA Cambridge silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
CaB Cambridge silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
CaC Cambridge silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
CaD Cambridge silt loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes
CbB Cambridge very stony silt loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes
CbD Cambridge very stony silt loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes
CcB Cambridge-Venango silt loams, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Canadice Soils

The Canadice are deep, poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial sediments. They have a very slowly permeable subsoil and a water table at or near the surface during much of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and very slow permeability.

Cd Canadice silt loam

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Canadea Soils

The Canadea are deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial lake deposits. They have a very slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonal high water table at 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to high water table and very slow permeability.

CeA Canadea silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
CeB Canadea silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Carlisle Soils

The Carlisle are deep, very poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from woody and herbaceous organic deposits. They have a moderately rapidly permeable subsoil and a water table at the surface during all of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and flooding.

CM Carlisle Muck

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Chenango Soils

The Chenango are deep, well to somewhat excessively drained soils formed from materials weathered from glacial outwash. They have a moderate to moderately rapidly permeable subsoil . Most use problems are related to droughtiness and moderately rapid permeability.

CoA Chenango gravelly silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
CoB Chenango gravelly silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
CoC Chenango gravelly silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes

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Frenchtown Soils

The Frenchtown are deep, poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a slowly permeable subsoil and a high water table at or near the surface during much of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and slow permeability.

FhA Frenchtown silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
FhB Frenchtown silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
FvB Frenchtown very stony silt loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes

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Halsey Soils

The Halsey are deep, very poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial outwash and local alluvium. They have a moderately slowly permeable subsoil and a high water table at the surface during most of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and slow permeability.

Ha Halsey silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

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Hanover Soils

The Hanover are deep, moderately well drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a moderately slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonal high water table at 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and moderately slow permeability.

HnA Hanover silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
HnB Hanover silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
HnC Hanover silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
HoB Hanover very stony silt loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes
HoD Hanover very stony silt loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes

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Haven Soils

The Haven are deep, well drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial stream deposits. They have a moderately permeable subsoil. Most use problems are related to slope or hazard of groundwater pollution.

HvA Haven silt loam
HvB Haven silt loam

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Holly Soils

The Holly are deep, poorly to very poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from stream deposits. They have a moderately to moderately slow permeable subsoil and a high water table at or near the surface during much of the year. Most use problems are related to flood hazard, high water table, and moderately slow permeability.

Hy Holly silt loam
Hz Holly silty clay loam

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Philo Soils

The Philo are deep, moderately well drained soils formed in materials weathered from stream deposits. They have a moderate to moderately slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonal high water table at 1.5 to 3.0 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to flooding hazard, moderately slow permeability, and seasonal high water table.

Ph Philo silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

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Platea Soils

The Platea are deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a very slowly permeable subsoil and a seasonal high water table at 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and very slow permeability.

PkB Platea silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Pope Soils

The Pope are deep, well drained soils formed in materials weathered from stream deposits. They have a moderately permeable subsoil. Most use problems are related to flooding hazard.

Po Pope loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

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Red Hook Soils

The Red Hook are deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial outwash. They have a slowly permeable fragipan and a seasonal high water table at 0.5 to 3.0 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and slow permeability.

Rh Red Hook loam, 0 to 5 percent slopes

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Scio Soils

The Scio are deep, moderately well drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial stream deposits. They have a moderately permeable subsoil and a seasonal high water table at 1.5 to 3.0 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table.

ScA Scio silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
ScB Scio silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Sheffield Soils

The Sheffield are deep, poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a very slowly permeable subsoil and a high water table at or near the surface during much of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and very slow permeability.

Sh Sheffield silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes

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Shelmadine Soils

The Shelmadine are deep, poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a slowly permeable subsoil and a high water table at or near the surface during much of the year. Most use problems are related to high water table and slow permeability.

SmA Shelmadine silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
SmB Shelmadine silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes

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Valois Soils

The Valois are deep, well drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a moderately permeable subsoil. Most use problems are related to coarse fragments and slope.

VaB Valois gravelly silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
VaC Valois gravelly silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
VaD Valois gravelly silt loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes
VLF Valois soils, 25 to 60 percent slopes
VmB Valois-Cambridge complex, 3 to 8 percent slopes
VmC Valois-Cambridge complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes

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Venango Soils

The Venango are deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in materials weathered from glacial till. They have a very slowly permeable fragipan and seasonal high water table at 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface during wet periods. Most use problems are related to seasonal high water table and very slow permeability.

VnA Venango silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
VnB Venango silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
VnC Venango silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
VoB Venango very stony silt loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes
VoC Venango very stony silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes

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Wyoming Soils

The Wyoming are deep, somewhat excessively drained soils formed in materials weathered from water sorted sand, silt, and gravel. They have a rapidly permeable subsoil. Most use problems are related to coarse fragments, rapid permeability, and low available water capacity.

WyA Wyoming gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes
WyB Wyoming gravelly sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
WyC Wyoming gravelly sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
WyD Wyoming gravelly sandy loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes

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Soil Survey Information on the Web

As county soil information is digitized, it is posted on the following websites:

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