Stark County, Illinois
A shallow water table limits basements on 52% of Stark County's mapped land, a higher share than 68% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 36%.
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. 81% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1956.
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 Stark County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 36.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 52.1% |
| Septic fields very limited | 62.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 19.2% |
| Mapped soil | 184,115 acres |
How we count · survey areas IL175 (2025-08-31)
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 4.7% by land area here, and 19% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 36% of the mapped land.
On 52% of Stark 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: 38.22 in, 0.19 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 38.03 in.
USDA rates 63% 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 21 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 19 weeks, most recently on the March 31, 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 Stark County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 38.03 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 38.22 in (+0.19) |
| 2025 | 30.52 in (-7.51) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2019: 51.86 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 2005: 21.40 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at KEWANEE 1 E (11 mi away) | 9.2 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,573 |
| Median year built | 1956 |
| Built before 1980 | 81% |
| Built 2000 or later | 6% |
| Owner-occupied | 80% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $104,500 |
| Single-family detached | 87% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria County, IL | 22 mi | 29% | 37% |
| Marshall County, IL | 24 mi | 36% | 66% |
| Knox County, IL | 25 mi | 41% | 41% |
| Henry County, IL | 25 mi | 19% | 48% |
| Bureau County, IL | 25 mi | 25% | 53% |
| Putnam County, IL | 27 mi | 23% | 50% |
| Woodford County, IL | 37 mi | 49% | 81% |
| Tazewell County, IL | 43 mi | 33% | 53% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 31, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status