Wadena County, Minnesota
A shallow water table limits basements on 67% of Wadena County's mapped land, a higher share than 79% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on under 1%.
100% 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. 58% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1974.
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 Wadena County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | under 0.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 66.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 94.4% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.1% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | under 0.1% |
| Mapped soil | 347,600 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Markey | 8% | n/a |
| Seelyeville | 8% | n/a |
| Friendship | 8% | n/a |
| Roscommon | 7% | n/a |
| Blowers | 7% | n/a |
| Menahga | 6% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas MN159 (2025-09-10)
What the numbers mean here
On 67% of Wadena 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: 21.50 in, 5.35 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 26.85 in.
USDA rates 94% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
100% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 52 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 19 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 100% |
| D2 severe or worse | 39.5% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Wadena County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 26.85 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 21.50 in (-5.35) |
| 2025 | 23.49 in (-3.36) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1965: 34.51 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1976: 13.13 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at NEW YORK MILLS (19 mi away) | 5.7 |
Homes
| Housing units | 7,021 |
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Built before 1980 | 58% |
| Built 2000 or later | 21% |
| Owner-occupied | 74% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $173,000 |
| Single-family detached | 77% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hubbard County, MN | 35 mi | 0% | 26% |
| Todd County, MN | 36 mi | under 1% | 53% |
| Otter Tail County, MN | 37 mi | 3% | 40% |
| Cass County, MN | 40 mi | 1% | 44% |
| Becker County, MN | 43 mi | 4% | 44% |
| Crow Wing County, MN | 44 mi | 1% | 51% |
| Douglas County, MN | 50 mi | 5% | 46% |
| Morrison County, MN | 52 mi | under 1% | 67% |
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