Soil Survey of Lincoln County, West Virginia - Soil Data Mart - US ...

Soil Survey of Lincoln County, West Virginia
and massive sandstones of the Allegheny and Kanawha Formations. The thickness
of the rock strata of the Conemaugh Group lessens as the strata extend to the south,
and the rock strata only cap ridgetops in the southernmost part of the county. Gilpin
and Wharton soils formed in residuum and are common in the southern half of the
county.
The southern half of the county has a high percentage of sandstone bedrock and
exhibits more rugged topography than the northern half. Rock strata of the Allegheny
and Kanawha Formations are dominant in the southern part. Since they occupy a
higher position in the stratigraphic column, rock strata of the Allegheny Formation
exert a greater influence on the soils in the southern portion of the county. The older
Kanawha Formation outcrops on the lower hillsides, generally in the southern quarter
of the county, and along the Guyandotte and Mud Rivers in the central portion of the
county. Matewan, Highsplint, and Cloverlick are examples of soils forming from
materials from the Allegheny and Kanawha Formations that contain more sandstone
than soils typically found in the northern portion of Lincoln County. Soils formed in
colluvium are also more extensive in the southern portion of the county. Examples are
the Highsplint and Cloverlick soils.
Several coal seams have been mined both commercially and for local use in
Lincoln County, primarily in the southern half of the county. Within the Allegheny
Formation, the No. 5 Block has been mined most extensively, but the Upper Freeport
and North Coalburg have also been mined. Coal seams within the Kanawha
Formation include the Stockton-Lewiston (or Belmont), Winifrede, and Peerless. The
latter three have generally been deep mined because of their greater depth in Lincoln
County. Most of the larger mining operations are in the southwestern and
southeastern parts of the county.
Climate
Winters are cold and a moderate amount of snow is received throughout Lincoln
County. Intermittent thaws preclude a long-lasting snow cover. Summers are fairly
warm on hillsides and in the valleys. Rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year,
and the normal annual precipitation is adequate for all crops commonly grown in the
county.
Table 1 gives data on temperature and precipitation as recorded at Logan, West
Virginia, in adjoining Logan County, in the period 1971 to 2000. Table 2 shows
probable dates of the first freeze in fall and the last freeze in spring. Table 3 provides
data on length of the growing season.
In winter, the average temperature is 37.1 degrees F and the average daily
minimum temperature is 27.5 degrees. The lowest temperature on record, which
occurred at Williamson, in adjoining Mingo County, on January 22, 1985, is
-18 degrees. In summer, the average temperature is 74.9 degrees and the average
daily maximum temperature is 85.9 degrees. The highest recorded temperature,
which occurred at Williamson on August 18, 1988, is 107 degrees.
Growing degree days are shown in table 1. They are equivalent to “heat units.”
During the month, growing degree days accumulate by the amount that the average
temperature each day exceeds a base temperature (40 degrees F). The normal
monthly accumulation is used to schedule single or successive plantings of a crop
between the last freeze in spring and the first freeze in fall.
The total annual precipitation is about 47 inches. Of this, about 29 inches, or
62 percent, usually falls in April through October. The growing season for most crops
falls within this period. In 2 years out of 10, the rainfall in April through October is
less than 18 inches. The two heaviest 1-day rainfalls during the period of record
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