Soil Survey of Buncombe County, NC
BUNCOMBE COUNTY is located in the central mountains of western North Carolina about 230 miles west of Raleigh, the State Capital. It consists of 422,284 acres, or approximately 656 square miles, of very steep mountains, rolling intermountain hills, and narrow valleys. Elevation ranges from 1,705 feet above sea level, on the French Broad River at the Madison County line, to 6,410 feet, at Potato Knob on the Buncombe and Yancey County line. The county is in the southern Blue Ridge Mountain Physiographic Province (MLRA 130B). It is bordered on the east by McDowell County, on the south by Henderson and Rutherford Counties, on the west by Haywood County, on the north by Madison County, and on the north and east by Yancey County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county had a population of 206,330 in 2000 and will have an estimated population of 235,281 by 2010. In 2000, the county seat of Asheville had a population of 68,889. Populations in the towns of Black Mountain, Woodfin, and Weaverville were 7,511; 3,162; and 2,411, respectively. This soil survey updates the survey of Buncombe County published in July 1954. It provides additional information and has larger maps, which show the soils in greater detail.
For additional information about the Soil Survey area, visit:
archive.org/details/usda-soil-survey-of-buncombe-county-n...
The general procedures followed in making this survey are described in the “National Soil Survey Handbook” of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and in the “Soil Survey Manual”. Before fieldwork began, preliminary boundaries of slopes and landforms were plotted stereoscopically on leaf-off aerial photographs taken in March of 1985 at a scale of 1:12,000. United States Geological Survey geologic and topographic maps at a scale of 1:24,000 were also used. Map units were then designed according to the pattern of soils interpreted from photographs, maps, and field observations. Traverses in the valleys were made by truck or on foot. The soils were examined at intervals ranging from a few hundred feet to about 1 /4 mile, depending on the landscape and soil pattern. Observations of special features, such as landforms, vegetation, and evidence of flooding, were made continuously without regard to spacing.
Soil boundaries were determined on the basis of soil examinations, observations, and photo interpretations. In many areas, such as those where very steep slopes intersect with flood plains, these boundaries are precise because of an abrupt change in the landform. The soils were examined with the aid of a hand probe, a bucket auger, or a spade to a depth of about 3 to 5 feet. The typical pedons were observed in pits dug by hand or with a back hoe. Traverses in the mountainous areas were made by truck or on foot along the existing network of roads and trials. These traverses commonly were made a few miles apart where the geologic materials and landscapes were uniform. In areas where differences in geologic material or landscape were observed, traverses were made at intervals close enough for the soil scientists to observe any differences among the soils.
Examinations were made at intervals ranging from a few hundred feet to about 1/4 mile. Observations of landforms and vegetation were made continuously without regard to spacing. Where soil profiles were readily observable, such as along recently constructed access roads and along logging roads, observations of the content of rock fragments, depth to bedrock, depth of rooting, the landform, and the underlying material were made without regard to spacing. Soil boundaries were plotted stereoscopically on the basis of parent material, landform, and relief. Many of these boundaries cannot be exact because they fall within a zone of gradual change between landforms, such as an area where a mountain ridge becomes a mountainside. Much intermingling of the soils occurs in these zones. Samples for chemical and physical analyses were taken from the site of the typical pedon of the major soils in the survey area. Most of the analyses were made by the Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Some soils were analyzed by the North Carolina State University Soils Laboratory, Raleigh, North Carolina. Commonly used laboratory procedures were followed. After completion of the soil mapping on un-rectified aerial photographs, map unit delineations and surface drainage were transferred by hand. Cultural features were transferred from 7.5-minute topographic maps of the United States Geological Survey. Soil survey data was compiled and digitized onto orthophotographs at a scale of 1:12,000 (1 inch equals 1,000 feet).
For additional information about identifying soils within a geographic area, visit:
websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
For information on how to plan and manage soil surveys; collect, document, and interpret soil survey information; and disseminate, publish, and promote the use of information about the soils of the United States and its trust territories, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/natio...
For more information about the major principles and practices needed for making and using soil surveys and for assembling and using related soils data, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/soil-...
Soil Survey of Buncombe County, NC
BUNCOMBE COUNTY is located in the central mountains of western North Carolina about 230 miles west of Raleigh, the State Capital. It consists of 422,284 acres, or approximately 656 square miles, of very steep mountains, rolling intermountain hills, and narrow valleys. Elevation ranges from 1,705 feet above sea level, on the French Broad River at the Madison County line, to 6,410 feet, at Potato Knob on the Buncombe and Yancey County line. The county is in the southern Blue Ridge Mountain Physiographic Province (MLRA 130B). It is bordered on the east by McDowell County, on the south by Henderson and Rutherford Counties, on the west by Haywood County, on the north by Madison County, and on the north and east by Yancey County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county had a population of 206,330 in 2000 and will have an estimated population of 235,281 by 2010. In 2000, the county seat of Asheville had a population of 68,889. Populations in the towns of Black Mountain, Woodfin, and Weaverville were 7,511; 3,162; and 2,411, respectively. This soil survey updates the survey of Buncombe County published in July 1954. It provides additional information and has larger maps, which show the soils in greater detail.
For additional information about the Soil Survey area, visit:
archive.org/details/usda-soil-survey-of-buncombe-county-n...
The general procedures followed in making this survey are described in the “National Soil Survey Handbook” of the Natural Resources Conservation Service and in the “Soil Survey Manual”. Before fieldwork began, preliminary boundaries of slopes and landforms were plotted stereoscopically on leaf-off aerial photographs taken in March of 1985 at a scale of 1:12,000. United States Geological Survey geologic and topographic maps at a scale of 1:24,000 were also used. Map units were then designed according to the pattern of soils interpreted from photographs, maps, and field observations. Traverses in the valleys were made by truck or on foot. The soils were examined at intervals ranging from a few hundred feet to about 1 /4 mile, depending on the landscape and soil pattern. Observations of special features, such as landforms, vegetation, and evidence of flooding, were made continuously without regard to spacing.
Soil boundaries were determined on the basis of soil examinations, observations, and photo interpretations. In many areas, such as those where very steep slopes intersect with flood plains, these boundaries are precise because of an abrupt change in the landform. The soils were examined with the aid of a hand probe, a bucket auger, or a spade to a depth of about 3 to 5 feet. The typical pedons were observed in pits dug by hand or with a back hoe. Traverses in the mountainous areas were made by truck or on foot along the existing network of roads and trials. These traverses commonly were made a few miles apart where the geologic materials and landscapes were uniform. In areas where differences in geologic material or landscape were observed, traverses were made at intervals close enough for the soil scientists to observe any differences among the soils.
Examinations were made at intervals ranging from a few hundred feet to about 1/4 mile. Observations of landforms and vegetation were made continuously without regard to spacing. Where soil profiles were readily observable, such as along recently constructed access roads and along logging roads, observations of the content of rock fragments, depth to bedrock, depth of rooting, the landform, and the underlying material were made without regard to spacing. Soil boundaries were plotted stereoscopically on the basis of parent material, landform, and relief. Many of these boundaries cannot be exact because they fall within a zone of gradual change between landforms, such as an area where a mountain ridge becomes a mountainside. Much intermingling of the soils occurs in these zones. Samples for chemical and physical analyses were taken from the site of the typical pedon of the major soils in the survey area. Most of the analyses were made by the Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Some soils were analyzed by the North Carolina State University Soils Laboratory, Raleigh, North Carolina. Commonly used laboratory procedures were followed. After completion of the soil mapping on un-rectified aerial photographs, map unit delineations and surface drainage were transferred by hand. Cultural features were transferred from 7.5-minute topographic maps of the United States Geological Survey. Soil survey data was compiled and digitized onto orthophotographs at a scale of 1:12,000 (1 inch equals 1,000 feet).
For additional information about identifying soils within a geographic area, visit:
websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
For information on how to plan and manage soil surveys; collect, document, and interpret soil survey information; and disseminate, publish, and promote the use of information about the soils of the United States and its trust territories, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/natio...
For more information about the major principles and practices needed for making and using soil surveys and for assembling and using related soils data, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/resources/guides-and-instructions/soil-...