Union County, Indiana
A shallow water table limits basements on 53% of Union County's mapped land, a higher share than 69% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 1%.
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. 67% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1970.
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 Union County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.9% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 53.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 81.3% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.2% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.1% |
| Mapped soil | 105,658 acres |
How we count · survey areas IN161 (2025-09-02)
What the numbers mean here
On 53% of Union 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: 54.60 in, 10.45 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 44.15 in.
USDA rates 81% 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 | 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 Union County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 44.15 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 54.60 in (+10.45) |
| 2025 | 48.21 in (+4.06) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2011: 58.59 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1934: 22.52 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at BROOKVILLE (14 mi away) | 9.9 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,255 |
| Median year built | 1970 |
| Built before 1980 | 67% |
| Built 2000 or later | 12% |
| Owner-occupied | 80% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $173,500 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County, IN | 14 mi | 2% | 41% |
| Franklin County, IN | 16 mi | 15% | 53% |
| Preble County, OH | 17 mi | 17% | 86% |
| Wayne County, IN | 17 mi | 10% | 72% |
| Butler County, OH | 23 mi | 13% | 30% |
| Rush County, IN | 29 mi | 17% | 87% |
| Henry County, IN | 33 mi | 11% | 87% |
| Dearborn County, IN | 33 mi | 38% | 36% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 2, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status