Redwood County, Minnesota
A shallow water table limits basements on 91% of Redwood County's mapped land, a higher share than 96% of US counties and the 10th highest of 87 Minnesota counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 11%.
37.3% 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. 71% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1965.
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 Redwood County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 11.5% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 90.6% |
| Septic fields very limited | 94.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 10.7% |
| Mapped soil | 564,200 acres |
How we count · survey areas MN127 (2025-09-10)
What the numbers mean here
On 91% of Redwood 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: 18.29 in, 11.09 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 29.38 in.
USDA rates 95% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
37.3% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 22 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 85% of its area, on the June 23, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 99.6% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 37.3% |
| 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 Redwood County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 29.38 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 18.29 in (-11.09) |
| 2025 | 26.01 in (-3.37) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2018: 40.87 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1976: 13.42 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at LAMBERTON SW RSCH & OUTREACH C (12 mi away) | 6.5 |
Homes
| Housing units | 7,110 |
| Median year built | 1965 |
| Built before 1980 | 71% |
| Built 2000 or later | 11% |
| Owner-occupied | 78% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $158,200 |
| Single-family detached | 78% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Renville County, MN | 27 mi | 17% | 90% |
| Cottonwood County, MN | 27 mi | 8% | 86% |
| Brown County, MN | 28 mi | 10% | 85% |
| Lyon County, MN | 29 mi | 10% | 87% |
| Murray County, MN | 37 mi | 10% | 85% |
| Yellow Medicine County, MN | 37 mi | 9% | 87% |
| Watonwan County, MN | 43 mi | 12% | 87% |
| Chippewa County, MN | 46 mi | 2% | 77% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 10, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status