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Itawamba County, Mississippi
A shallow water table limits basements on 42% of Itawamba County's mapped land, a higher share than 59% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 2%.
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. 45% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1984.
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 Itawamba County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 2.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 41.6% |
| Septic fields very limited | 94.2% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 2.1% |
| Mapped soil | 346,000 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Smithdale | 35% | 0% |
| Mantachie | 17% | n/a |
| Luverne | 13% | n/a |
| Ora | 9% | n/a |
| Ruston | 4% | n/a |
| Savannah | 4% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas MS057 (2025-09-05)
What the numbers mean here
On 42% of Itawamba 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: 45.61 in, 13.08 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 58.69 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 18 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 4 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 | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Itawamba County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 58.69 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 45.61 in (-13.08) |
| 2025 | 56.59 in (-2.10) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1991: 85.70 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1943: 35.38 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at FULTON 3 W (6 mi away) | 19.7 |
Homes
| Housing units | 10,539 |
| Median year built | 1984 |
| Built before 1980 | 45% |
| Built 2000 or later | 22% |
| Owner-occupied | 79% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $142,400 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County, MS | 18 mi | 28% | 61% |
| Prentiss County, MS | 25 mi | 15% | 49% |
| Monroe County, MS | 28 mi | 28% | 72% |
| Marion County, AL | 29 mi | under 1% | 29% |
| Franklin County, AL | 32 mi | 16% | 31% |
| Tishomingo County, MS | 32 mi | 0% | 28% |
| Lamar County, AL | 38 mi | under 1% | 44% |
| Pontotoc County, MS | 39 mi | 30% | 77% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 5, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status