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Benson County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 69% of Benson County's mapped land, a higher share than 81% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 12%.
None 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. 68% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1972.
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 Benson County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 12.4% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 69.3% |
| Septic fields very limited | 73.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.4% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 15.6% |
| Mapped soil | 920,700 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Balaton | 8% | n/a |
| Heimdal | 8% | n/a |
| Souris | 7% | n/a |
| Hamerly | 6% | n/a |
| Tonka | 5% | n/a |
| Emrick | 5% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND005 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 69% of Benson 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: 14.72 in, 4.16 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 18.88 in.
USDA rates 74% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 6 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 25.6% of its area, in 2 weeks, most recently on the September 1, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 1% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| 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 Benson County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 18.88 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 14.72 in (-4.16) |
| 2025 | 17.38 in (-1.50) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1896: 26.16 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1934: 9.50 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MINNEWAUKAN (4 mi away) | 3.8 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,536 |
| Median year built | 1972 |
| Built before 1980 | 68% |
| Built 2000 or later | 12% |
| Owner-occupied | 73% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $90,000 |
| Single-family detached | 73% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce County, ND | 31 mi | 8% | 68% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 31 mi | 24% | 85% |
| Eddy County, ND | 32 mi | 6% | 63% |
| Wells County, ND | 37 mi | 10% | 55% |
| Towner County, ND | 43 mi | 12% | 94% |
| Foster County, ND | 47 mi | 11% | 70% |
| Rolette County, ND | 53 mi | 19% | 62% |
| Nelson County, ND | 54 mi | 19% | 71% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (May 4, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status