Larue County, Kentucky
A shallow water table limits basements on 19% of Larue County's mapped land. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 4%.
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. 46% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1983.
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 Larue County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 3.8% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 19.0% |
| Septic fields very limited | 65.5% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 5.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 24.3% |
| Mapped soil | 168,716 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Crider | 18% | 0% |
| Vertrees | 15% | n/a |
| Sonora | 9% | n/a |
| Bedford | 7% | n/a |
| Garmon | 7% | n/a |
| Nolin | 6% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas KY621 (2025-09-08)
What the numbers mean here
On 19% of Larue 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: 44.89 in, 7.01 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 51.90 in.
USDA rates 66% 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 10 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 8 weeks, most recently on the May 26, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 74.4% |
| 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 Larue County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 51.90 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 44.89 in (-7.01) |
| 2025 | 60.88 in (+8.98) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2011: 69.80 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1930: 29.12 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at ELIZABETHTOWN KSP#4 (14 mi away) | 14 |
Homes
| Housing units | 6,573 |
| Median year built | 1983 |
| Built before 1980 | 46% |
| Built 2000 or later | 24% |
| Owner-occupied | 79% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $183,500 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin County, KY | 18 mi | 7% | 17% |
| Hart County, KY | 19 mi | 7% | 4% |
| Green County, KY | 21 mi | 17% | 10% |
| Nelson County, KY | 22 mi | 16% | 14% |
| Marion County, KY | 23 mi | 5% | 14% |
| Taylor County, KY | 24 mi | 4% | 12% |
| Bullitt County, KY | 29 mi | 13% | 21% |
| Washington County, KY | 32 mi | 23% | 5% |
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