Cleveland County, Arkansas
A shallow water table limits basements on 78% of Cleveland County's mapped land, a higher share than 87% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 8%.
100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 42% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1987.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Soil under Cleveland County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 7.5% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 77.6% |
| Septic fields very limited | 83.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.5% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 15.1% |
| Mapped soil | 383,207 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Wehadkee | 17% | n/a |
| Caddo | 12% | n/a |
| Savannah | 9% | n/a |
| Tippah | 8% | n/a |
| Prentiss | 6% | n/a |
| Pheba | 6% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas AR025 (2025-09-10)
What the numbers mean here
On 78% of Cleveland County'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: 35.62 in, 19.56 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 55.18 in.
USDA rates 84% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
100% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 52 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 39 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 100% |
| D2 severe or worse | 100% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 100% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Cleveland County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 55.18 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 35.62 in (-19.56) |
| 2025 | 47.18 in (-8.00) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2009: 80.62 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 2010: 33.40 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at FORDYCE (13 mi away) | 18.5 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,587 |
| Median year built | 1987 |
| Built before 1980 | 42% |
| Built 2000 or later | 27% |
| Owner-occupied | 83% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $137,600 |
| Single-family detached | 67% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County, AR | 26 mi | 31% | 63% |
| Dallas County, AR | 27 mi | 10% | 66% |
| Bradley County, AR | 30 mi | 6% | 79% |
| Calhoun County, AR | 30 mi | 3% | 83% |
| Grant County, AR | 30 mi | 5% | 84% |
| Jefferson County, AR | 30 mi | 36% | 65% |
| Drew County, AR | 34 mi | 15% | 81% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 45 mi | 9% | 45% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 10, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status