Atkinson County, Georgia
A shallow water table limits basements on 84% of Atkinson County's mapped land, a higher share than 92% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.
None 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. 32% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1989.
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 Atkinson County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 84.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 96.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.5% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 220,300 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Leefield | 17% | n/a |
| Pelham | 16% | 100% |
| Surrency | 14% | n/a |
| Sapelo | 8% | n/a |
| Rigdon | 7% | n/a |
| Kinston | 5% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas GA602 (2025-08-28)
What the numbers mean here
On 84% of Atkinson 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: 39.24 in, 8.77 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 48.01 in.
USDA rates 97% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 50 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 30 weeks, most recently on the June 16, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 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 Atkinson County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 48.01 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 39.24 in (-8.77) |
| 2025 | 40.37 in (-7.64) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1964: 71.62 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1954: 25.41 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at HOMERVILLE 5 N (16 mi away) | 14.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,530 |
| Median year built | 1989 |
| Built before 1980 | 32% |
| Built 2000 or later | 25% |
| Owner-occupied | 62% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $79,000 |
| Single-family detached | 41% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee County, GA | 18 mi | 0% | 63% |
| Berrien County, GA | 21 mi | 0% | 73% |
| Lanier County, GA | 21 mi | 0% | 82% |
| Clinch County, GA | 28 mi | under 1% | over 99% |
| Bacon County, GA | 31 mi | 0% | 82% |
| Irwin County, GA | 32 mi | under 1% | 57% |
| Ware County, GA | 32 mi | 0% | 98% |
| Cook County, GA | 34 mi | 0% | 68% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 28, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status