HomeNorth DakotaEmmons County

Emmons County, North Dakota

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on 14% of Emmons County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 7%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. 85.6% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map.

FEMA's flood data list 11 flood losses here since 2016. 69% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1965.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

14%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

7%

high water table: limits basements

86%

in drought, October 13, 2026

69%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Emmons County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)14.1%
High water table (limits basements)6.9%
Septic fields very limited52.9%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)3.6%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)14.5%
Mapped soil995,300 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Williams9%0%
Amor8%n/a
Bryant5%n/a
Temvik5%n/a
Vebar4%n/a
Grassna4%n/a
Campbell County: 18%Logan County: 11%McIntosh County: 22%Sioux County: 33%Burleigh County: 12%Kidder County: 9%McPherson County: 18%Morton County: 32%Emmons County CampbellLoganMcIntoshSiouxBurleighKidderMcPhersonMortonEmmons
Emmons County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas ND029 (2026-05-04)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 18.05 in, 0.60 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 18.65 in.

USDA rates 53% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

With shrink-swell clay on 14% and a shallow water table on 7% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Emmons County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

Drought

85.6% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 11 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 89.3% of its area, in 7 weeks, most recently on the September 29, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse100%
D1 moderate drought or worse85.6%
D2 severe or worse10.9%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

11 flood losses since 2016, $93,855 paid. The worst year was 2019, with 10.

YearFlood losses
20160
20170
20180
201910
20201
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202018.65 in
12 months to August 202618.05 in (-0.60)
202523.09 in (+4.44)
Wettest year since 18952019: 27.69 in
Driest year since 18951936: 6.02 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at HAGUE (21 mi away)3.5

Homes

Housing units2,051
Median year built1965
Built before 198069%
Built 2000 or later13%
Owner-occupied80%
Median value, owner-occupied$117,200
Single-family detached81%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Campbell County, SD 36 mi 18% 13%
Logan County, ND 37 mi 11% 15%
McIntosh County, ND 40 mi 22% 12%
Sioux County, ND 41 mi 33% 3%
Burleigh County, ND 49 mi 12% 11%
Kidder County, ND 56 mi 9% 19%
McPherson County, SD 58 mi 18% 22%
Morton County, ND 59 mi 32% 5%

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