Hickman County, Kentucky
A shallow water table limits basements on 77% of Hickman County's mapped land, a higher share than 86% of US counties and the 2nd highest of 120 Kentucky counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 3%.
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. 55% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1975.
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 Hickman County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 2.5% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 77.1% |
| Septic fields very limited | 81.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.1% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 2.8% |
| Mapped soil | 161,926 acres |
How we count · survey areas KY611 (2025-09-08)
What the numbers mean here
On 77% of Hickman 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: 45.20 in, 6.94 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 52.14 in.
USDA rates 82% 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 26 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 16 weeks, most recently on the June 9, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 36.6% |
| 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 Hickman County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 52.14 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 45.20 in (-6.94) |
| 2025 | 58.75 in (+6.61) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1957: 74.74 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1963: 31.60 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at UNION CITY (20 mi away) | 16.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,156 |
| Median year built | 1975 |
| Built before 1980 | 55% |
| Built 2000 or later | 19% |
| Owner-occupied | 71% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $115,700 |
| Single-family detached | 81% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle County, KY | 13 mi | 3% | 72% |
| Fulton County, KY | 15 mi | 15% | 65% |
| Graves County, KY | 18 mi | under 1% | 60% |
| Mississippi County, MO | 21 mi | 33% | 85% |
| Obion County, TN | 24 mi | 1% | 66% |
| Ballard County, KY | 26 mi | 2% | 67% |
| Weakley County, TN | 29 mi | 0% | 84% |
| McCracken County, KY | 30 mi | 6% | 73% |
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