Jennings County, Indiana
A shallow water table limits basements on 76% of Jennings County's mapped land, a higher share than 85% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 5%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 1 flood losses here since 2016. 47% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1982.
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 Jennings County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 5.3% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 75.7% |
| Septic fields very limited | 93.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 8.1% |
| Mapped soil | 242,278 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Cobbsfork | 16% | n/a |
| Avonburg | 11% | n/a |
| Nabb | 10% | n/a |
| Blocher | 9% | n/a |
| Hickory | 6% | n/a |
| Cincinnati | 5% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas IN079 (2025-09-03)
What the numbers mean here
On 76% of Jennings 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: 49.36 in, 1.19 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 48.17 in.
USDA rates 94% 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. No part of the county was in drought in the last 52 weeks.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 24.9% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
1 flood losses since 2016, $0 paid. The worst year was 2026, with 1.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 1 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 48.17 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 49.36 in (+1.19) |
| 2025 | 45.84 in (-2.33) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1950: 61.48 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1934: 28.35 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at N VERNON 2 ESE (2 mi away) | 12.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 11,731 |
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Built before 1980 | 47% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18% |
| Owner-occupied | 79% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $161,500 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County, IN | 18 mi | 13% | 56% |
| Bartholomew County, IN | 20 mi | 4% | 67% |
| Ripley County, IN | 21 mi | 5% | 77% |
| Decatur County, IN | 22 mi | 4% | 86% |
| Scott County, IN | 23 mi | 2% | 76% |
| Jackson County, IN | 23 mi | 4% | 60% |
| Trimble County, KY | 30 mi | 6% | 11% |
| Switzerland County, IN | 34 mi | 41% | 40% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 3, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status