Sinkhole risk in Botetourt County, VA: Pockets of it

Pockets of it

Soluble rock at the surface or under thin cover in part of the county.

On soluble rock: 49%
At or near the surface: 49%
Buried under cover: 0%

What this means before you buy

Check the parcel against your state survey sinkhole map, and ask for an inspection if cracks, depressions or sticking doors show up.

That works out to roughly 264 of Botetourt County's 541 square miles on soluble rock, 264 of them with the rock at or near the surface. With about 34,129 residents (63 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 513 map points about 1.0 miles apart, so a pocket smaller than that can be missed or overstated.

Counties around Botetourt County

The nearest county rated sinkhole country is Roanoke city, VA, about 22 miles southwest, close enough that the same rock may run under the county line. 2 of the 6 closest counties land in the same band; the ground changes quickly around here.

Covington city, VA 18 mi northwest · 26% at surface
Alleghany County, VA 19 mi northwest · 18% at surface
Roanoke city, VA 22 mi southwest · 98% at surface
Bedford County, VA 23 mi southeast · 4% at surface
Salem city, VA 24 mi southwest · 100% at surface
Lexington city, VA 24 mi northeast · 100% at surface

Which formation it is

The largest mapped soluble unit here is the Elbrook Formation (dolostone (dolomite)), Cambrian in age, covering about 14% of the county. Next is the Lower Devonian and Silurian Formations Undivided at 6%.

Against the rest of Virginia

Botetourt County ranks 23 of 133 in Virginia for soluble rock at the surface, and sits above 87% of US counties on that measure.