Sinkhole risk in Jefferson County, AR: 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: 14%
At or near the surface: 14%
Buried under cover: 0%

The next step for one property

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

That works out to roughly 125 of Jefferson County's 872 square miles on soluble rock, 125 of them with the rock at or near the surface. With about 63,672 residents (73 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 273 map points about 1.8 miles apart, so a pocket smaller than that can be missed or overstated.

Two things to read before deciding: how these percentages are measured, and the warning signs that apply anywhere.

Counties around Jefferson County

The nearest county rated sinkhole country is Izard County, AR, about 126 miles north. 1 of the 6 closest counties land in the same band; the ground changes quickly around here.

Lincoln County, AR 25 mi southeast · 21% at surface
Grant County, AR 28 mi west · 23% at surface
Cleveland County, AR 30 mi southwest · 33% at surface
Arkansas County, AR 32 mi east · 0% at surface
Lonoke County, AR 33 mi north · 0% at surface
Pulaski County, AR 40 mi northwest · 3% at surface

The rock underneath

The largest mapped soluble unit here is the Jackson Group (mixed clastic/carbonate), Late Eocene in age, covering about 14% of the county.

Against the rest of Arkansas

Jefferson County ranks 27 of 75 in Arkansas for soluble rock at the surface, and sits above 71% of US counties on that measure.