Sinkhole risk in Bedford County, VA: Mostly deep or small

Mostly deep or small

Some soluble rock, mostly deeply buried or in a small share of the county.

On soluble rock: 4%
At or near the surface: 4%
Buried under cover: 0%

What to do about a house in Bedford County

Sinkholes are uncommon here; watch for new depressions after heavy rain or leaking pipes.

That works out to roughly 30 of Bedford County's 760 square miles on soluble rock, 30 of them with the rock at or near the surface. With about 82,182 residents (108 per square mile), homes are spread across towns and farmland, and a mapped unit may or may not reach the developed parts. The figures come from 518 map points about 1.2 miles apart, so a pocket smaller than that can be missed or overstated.

Counties around Bedford County

The nearest county rated sinkhole country is Roanoke city, VA, about 24 miles west, close enough that the same rock may run under the county line. 1 of the 6 closest counties land in the same band; the ground changes quickly around here.

Lynchburg city, VA 19 mi east · under 1% at surface
Botetourt County, VA 23 mi northwest · 49% at surface
Roanoke city, VA 24 mi west · 98% at surface
Campbell County, VA 25 mi east · 2% at surface
Salem city, VA 29 mi west · 100% at surface
Franklin County, VA 30 mi southwest · under 1% at surface

The rock underneath

The largest mapped soluble unit here is the Rome Formation (shale), Cambrian in age, covering about 4% of the county. Next is the Elbrook Formation at under 1%.

Against the rest of Virginia

Bedford County ranks 70 of 133 in Virginia for soluble rock at the surface, and sits above 61% of US counties on that measure.