Dallas County, Arkansas
A shallow water table limits basements on 66% of Dallas County's mapped land, a higher share than 79% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 10%.
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. 56% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1978.
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 Dallas County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 10.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 66.2% |
| Septic fields very limited | 86.7% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 11.1% |
| Mapped soil | 427,186 acres |
How we count · survey areas AR620 (2025-09-10)
What the numbers mean here
On 66% of Dallas 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: 34.87 in, 20.95 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 55.82 in.
USDA rates 87% 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 38 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 | 75.2% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Dallas County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 55.82 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 34.87 in (-20.95) |
| 2025 | 46.91 in (-8.91) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2009: 89.31 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1943: 33.73 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at FORDYCE (18 mi away) | 18.5 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,470 |
| Median year built | 1978 |
| Built before 1980 | 56% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18% |
| Owner-occupied | 73% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $97,300 |
| Single-family detached | 74% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant County, AR | 26 mi | 5% | 84% |
| Cleveland County, AR | 27 mi | 8% | 78% |
| Ouachita County, AR | 29 mi | 9% | 45% |
| Hot Spring County, AR | 29 mi | 14% | 35% |
| Calhoun County, AR | 29 mi | 3% | 83% |
| Clark County, AR | 31 mi | 24% | 55% |
| Nevada County, AR | 43 mi | 19% | 71% |
| Bradley County, AR | 44 mi | 6% | 79% |
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