HomeMississippiMontgomery County
Montgomery County, Mississippi
A shallow water table limits basements on 61% of Montgomery County's mapped land, a higher share than 75% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 1%.
100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map, up from 71.5% a week earlier. 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 Montgomery County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.6% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 60.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 98.0% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 1.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.6% |
| Mapped soil | 260,900 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Smithdale | 27% | 0% |
| Providence | 25% | n/a |
| Gillsburg | 9% | n/a |
| Collins | 7% | n/a |
| Sweatman | 7% | n/a |
| Arkabutla | 3% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas MS097 (2025-09-08)
What the numbers mean here
On 61% of Montgomery 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: 37.41 in, 20.19 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 57.60 in.
USDA rates 98% 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 47 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 13 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 | 51.7% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Montgomery County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 57.60 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 37.41 in (-20.19) |
| 2025 | 51.18 in (-6.42) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1983: 81.08 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1943: 32.92 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at WINONA 5 E (1 mi away) | 18.9 |
Homes
| Housing units | 5,454 |
| Median year built | 1983 |
| Built before 1980 | 46% |
| Built 2000 or later | 16% |
| Owner-occupied | 76% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $126,800 |
| Single-family detached | 68% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County, MS | 17 mi | 3% | 52% |
| Grenada County, MS | 21 mi | 4% | 53% |
| Webster County, MS | 22 mi | 13% | 71% |
| Choctaw County, MS | 25 mi | 12% | 53% |
| Attala County, MS | 29 mi | 1% | 57% |
| Calhoun County, MS | 35 mi | 11% | 69% |
| Holmes County, MS | 37 mi | 14% | 57% |
| Yalobusha County, MS | 37 mi | 2% | 55% |
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