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Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area, Alaska
A shallow water table limits basements on 35% of Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area's mapped land, a higher share than 54% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.
None of the county is in drought on the November 3, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 33% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1987.
Data as of November 3, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, November 3, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 35.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 50.3% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.4% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 6,397,693 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Maybeso | 5% | n/a |
| Kina | 4% | n/a |
| Tolstoi | 3% | n/a |
| McGilvery | 3% | n/a |
| St. Nicholas | 3% | n/a |
| Wadleigh | 3% | n/a |
What the numbers mean here
On 35% of Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 103.30 in, 15.78 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 119.08 in.
USDA rates 50% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the November 3, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 8 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 66.6% of its area, in 8 weeks, most recently on the September 22, 2026 map.
| Category, November 3, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 119.08 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 103.30 in (-15.78) |
| 2025 | 114.23 in (-4.85) |
| Wettest year since 1925 | 1939: 147.79 in |
| Driest year since 1925 | 2018: 84.63 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at KLAWOCK AP (8 mi away) | 17.7 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,250 |
| Median year built | 1987 |
| Built before 1980 | 33% |
| Built 2000 or later | 21% |
| Owner-occupied | 71% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $225,300 |
| Single-family detached | 69% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrangell City and Borough, AK | 56 mi | 0% | 37% |
| Ketchikan Gateway Borough, AK | 83 mi | 0% | 47% |
| Petersburg Borough, AK | 109 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Sitka City and Borough, AK | 134 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Juneau City and Borough, AK | 190 mi | 0% | 10% |
| Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK | 214 mi | 0% | 21% |
| Haines Borough, AK | 252 mi | 0% | 25% |
| Skagway Municipality, AK | 285 mi | 0% | 27% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (November 3, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status