Jackson County, Colorado
Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 18% of Jackson County's mapped land, a higher share than 68% of US counties. A shallow water table limits basements on 16%.
The soil survey maps 68% of the county's land area; these shares describe the mapped part. 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. 52% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1979.
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 Jackson County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 18.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 15.8% |
| Septic fields very limited | 91.4% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.8% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 18.1% |
| Mapped soil | 701,000 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: expansive clay |
|---|---|---|
| Fluetsch | 7% | n/a |
| Tiagos | 5% | n/a |
| Spicerton | 4% | n/a |
| Cabin | 3% | n/a |
| Bosler | 3% | n/a |
| Randman | 3% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas CO646 (2025-08-29)
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 2.8% by land area here, and 18% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 18% of the mapped land.
Clay shrinks as it dries: 100% of the county is in drought on the latest map, and 18% of Jackson County's mapped land has shrink-swell clay.
On 16% of Jackson 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: 19.80 in, 4.19 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 23.99 in.
USDA rates 91% 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 47 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 | 53.4% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 10.9% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Jackson County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 23.99 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 19.80 in (-4.19) |
| 2025 | 19.68 in (-4.31) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1983: 33.28 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1904: 15.25 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at WALDEN (6 mi away) | 0.3 |
Homes
| Housing units | 1,107 |
| Median year built | 1979 |
| Built before 1980 | 52% |
| Built 2000 or later | 26% |
| Owner-occupied | 71% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $239,600 |
| Single-family detached | 82% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routt County, CO | 37 mi | 40% | 10% |
| Grand County, CO | 40 mi | 5% | 6% |
| Larimer County, CO | 44 mi | 6% | 4% |
| Boulder County, CO | 63 mi | 9% | 6% |
| Gilpin County, CO | 70 mi | 0% | 3% |
| Summit County, CO | 73 mi | 4% | 5% |
| Eagle County, CO | 74 mi | 4% | 1% |
| Clear Creek County, CO | 76 mi | 0% | 3% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 29, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status