HomeNorth DakotaEddy County
Eddy County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 63% of Eddy County's mapped land, a higher share than 76% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 6%.
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. 70% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1966.
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 Eddy County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 6.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 62.5% |
| Septic fields very limited | 69.4% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.3% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 6.5% |
| Mapped soil | 412,300 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Heimdal | 11% | n/a |
| Emrick | 6% | n/a |
| Fram | 5% | n/a |
| Marysland | 5% | n/a |
| Esmond | 5% | n/a |
| Divide | 4% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND027 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 63% of Eddy 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: 15.40 in, 3.92 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 19.32 in.
USDA rates 69% 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 9 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 96.8% of its area, in 5 weeks, most recently on the September 22, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 90% |
| 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 Eddy County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 19.32 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 15.40 in (-3.92) |
| 2025 | 18.42 in (-0.90) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1896: 27.92 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1936: 9.10 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MC HENRY 3W (16 mi away) | 4 |
Homes
| Housing units | 1,358 |
| Median year built | 1966 |
| Built before 1980 | 70% |
| Built 2000 or later | 12% |
| Owner-occupied | 72% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $124,000 |
| Single-family detached | 74% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foster County, ND | 17 mi | 11% | 70% |
| Benson County, ND | 32 mi | 12% | 69% |
| Nelson County, ND | 35 mi | 19% | 71% |
| Griggs County, ND | 36 mi | 12% | 65% |
| Wells County, ND | 38 mi | 10% | 55% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 38 mi | 24% | 85% |
| Stutsman County, ND | 52 mi | 15% | 40% |
| Steele County, ND | 58 mi | 11% | 67% |
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