Fountain County, Indiana
A shallow water table limits basements on 64% of Fountain County's mapped land, a higher share than 77% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 8%.
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. 68% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1966.
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 Fountain County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 8.3% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 63.5% |
| Septic fields very limited | 92.0% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Mapped soil | 254,777 acres |
How we count · survey areas IN045 (2025-09-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 64% of Fountain 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: 45.15 in, 4.02 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 41.13 in.
USDA rates 92% 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 24 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 15 weeks, most recently on the March 17, 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 Fountain County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 41.13 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 45.15 in (+4.02) |
| 2025 | 31.13 in (-10.00) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1990: 53.07 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1930: 26.77 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at PERRYSVILLE 4 WNW (15 mi away) | 9.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 7,875 |
| Median year built | 1966 |
| Built before 1980 | 68% |
| Built 2000 or later | 9% |
| Owner-occupied | 75% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $143,400 |
| Single-family detached | 77% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren County, IN | 18 mi | 5% | 82% |
| Montgomery County, IN | 19 mi | 20% | 77% |
| Vermillion County, IN | 22 mi | 6% | 50% |
| Parke County, IN | 24 mi | 1% | 42% |
| Tippecanoe County, IN | 26 mi | 1% | 64% |
| Vermilion County, IL | 26 mi | 34% | 90% |
| Benton County, IN | 33 mi | 2% | 95% |
| Putnam County, IN | 37 mi | 2% | 65% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 4, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status