Fulton County, Kentucky
A shallow water table limits basements on 65% of Fulton County's mapped land, a higher share than 78% of US counties and the 7th highest of 120 Kentucky counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 15%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 7 flood losses here since 2016. 66% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1972.
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 Fulton County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 14.5% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 65.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 74.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.6% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 16.0% |
| Mapped soil | 147,488 acres |
How we count · survey areas KY075 (2025-09-08)
What the numbers mean here
On 65% of Fulton 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: 40.37 in, 11.47 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 51.84 in.
USDA rates 75% 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 28 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 19 weeks, most recently on the June 23, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 76.9% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
7 flood losses since 2016, $293,292 paid. The worst year was 2023, with 5.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 51.84 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 40.37 in (-11.47) |
| 2025 | 58.82 in (+6.98) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1957: 77.77 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1963: 30.44 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at UNION CITY (14 mi away) | 16.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,158 |
| Median year built | 1972 |
| Built before 1980 | 66% |
| Built 2000 or later | 13% |
| Owner-occupied | 62% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $79,100 |
| Single-family detached | 79% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obion County, TN | 13 mi | 1% | 66% |
| Hickman County, KY | 15 mi | 3% | 77% |
| Mississippi County, MO | 20 mi | 33% | 85% |
| Lake County, TN | 22 mi | 29% | 78% |
| Carlisle County, KY | 24 mi | 3% | 72% |
| New Madrid County, MO | 26 mi | 35% | 84% |
| Weakley County, TN | 31 mi | 0% | 84% |
| Graves County, KY | 32 mi | under 1% | 60% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 8, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status