Texas County, Missouri
A shallow water table limits basements on 55% of Texas County's mapped land, a higher share than 71% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 15%.
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. 52% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1979.
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 Texas County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 14.8% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 54.8% |
| Septic fields very limited | 85.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.9% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 17.7% |
| Mapped soil | 755,469 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Poynor | 13% | n/a |
| Mano | 10% | n/a |
| Bender | 9% | n/a |
| Bendavis | 9% | n/a |
| Ocie | 7% | n/a |
| Tonti | 7% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas MO215 (2025-09-02)
What the numbers mean here
On 55% of Texas 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: 36.94 in, 8.96 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 45.90 in.
USDA rates 86% 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 28 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 6 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 | 100% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 71.7% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Texas County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 45.90 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 36.94 in (-8.96) |
| 2025 | 39.89 in (-6.01) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1927: 69.26 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1953: 22.53 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at LICKING 4N (17 mi away) | 12.4 |
Homes
| Housing units | 11,006 |
| Median year built | 1979 |
| Built before 1980 | 52% |
| Built 2000 or later | 21% |
| Owner-occupied | 77% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $146,700 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright County, MO | 29 mi | 5% | 47% |
| Dent County, MO | 33 mi | 1% | 44% |
| Shannon County, MO | 33 mi | 10% | 29% |
| Howell County, MO | 38 mi | 7% | 36% |
| Pulaski County, MO | 38 mi | 9% | 41% |
| Phelps County, MO | 39 mi | 15% | 53% |
| Douglas County, MO | 40 mi | 18% | 48% |
| Laclede County, MO | 42 mi | 14% | 55% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 2, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status