US Official State Soils Designations

Official State Soils

A state soil is a soil that has special significance to a particular state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. These "Official State Soils"share the same level of distinction as official state flowers and birds. Also, representative soils have been selected for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Areas with similar soils are grouped and labeled as soil series because their similar origins, chemical, and physical properties cause the soils to perform similarly for land use purposes. A soil series name generally is derived from a town or landmark in or near the area where the soil was first recognized.

Each series consists of soils having major horizons that are similar in color, texture, structure, reaction, consistence, mineral and chemical composition, and arrangement in the soil profile. A soil profile is the sequence of natural layers, or horizons, in a soil. It extends from the surface downward to unconsolidated material. Most soils have three major horizons, called the surface horizon, the subsoil, and the substratum.

The surface layer has the maximum accumulation of organic matter and is the horizon of maximum leaching of clay minerals and of iron and aluminum oxides. Some soils have a subsurface layer below the surface layer.

The subsoil, which underlies the surface layer or subsurface layer, is the horizon of maximum accumulation of clay minerals, iron and aluminum oxides and other compounds. These compounds may have been leached from the surface layer and re-deposited in the subsoil, or may have formed in place. Most likely, they occur as a result of a combination of both of these processes. The subsoil commonly has blocky or prismatic structure and generally is firmer and lighter in color than the surface layer.



Official State Soils Designations

State Symbols

Soils - Designation - Adopted

Alabama Bama soil series
Alabama State Soil - Apr 24, 1997
Alaska Tanana
NA
Arizona Casa Grande
NA
Arkansas Stuttgart soil series
Arkansas State Soil - 1997
California San Joaquin soil series
California State Soil - Aug 20, 1997
Colorado Seitz
NA
Connecticut Windsor
NA
DC Sunnyside
NA
Delaware Greenwich loam
Delaware State Soil - Apr 20, 2000
Florida Myakka fine sand
Florida State Soil - May 22, 1989
Georgia Tifton
NA
Hawaii Hilo
NA
Idaho Threebear
NA
Illinois Drummer silty clay loam
Illinois  State Soil - 2001
Indiana Miami
NA
Iowa Tama
NA
Kansas Harney silt loam
Kansas  State Soil - Apr 12, 1990
Kentucky Crider soil series
Kentucky State Soil - Jul 13,
1990
Louisiana Ruston
NA
Maine Chesuncook soil series
Maine State Soil - 1999
Maryland Sassafras
NA
Massachusetts Paxton soil series
Massachusetts State Soil - Jul 10, 1990
Michigan Kalkaska soil series
Michigan State Soil - Dec 4, 1990
Minnesota Lester
Minnesota State Soil - Apr 28, 2012
Mississippi Natchez silt loam
Mississippi State Soil - Mar13, 2003
Missouri Menfro
NA
Montana Scobey
NA
Nebraska Holdrege series
Nebraska State Soil - Apr 5, 1979
Nevada Orovada series
Nevada State Soil - 2001
New Hampshire   Marlow
NA
New Jersey Downer
NA
New Mexico Penistaja
NA
New York Honeoye
NA
North Carolina Cecil
NA
North Dakota Williams
NA
Ohio Miamian
NA
Oklahoma Port silt loam
Oklahoma State Soil - Apr 1, 1987
Oregon Jory soil
Oregon State Soil - 2011
Pennsylvania Hazleton
NA
Rhode Island Narragansett
NA
South Carolina Lynchburg
NA
South Dakota Houdek soil
South Dakota State Soil - 1990
Tennessee Dickson
NA
Texas Houston Black
NA
Utah Mivida
NA
Vermont Tunbridge soil series
Vermont State Soil - Mar 27, 1985
Virginia Pamunkey
NA
Washington Tokul
NA
West Virginia Monongahela silt loam
West Virginia State Soil - Apr 2, 1997
Wisconsin Antigo silt loam
Wisconsin State Soil - Sep 14, 1983
Wyoming Forkwood
NA
State Soils
State Soils
A state soil is a soil that has special significance to a particular state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. These Official State Soils share the same level of distinction as official state flowers and birds.