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Griggs County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 65% of Griggs County's mapped land, a higher share than 78% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 12%.
95.3% 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. 81% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1958.
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 Griggs County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 11.8% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 64.6% |
| Septic fields very limited | 68.8% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.2% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 13.6% |
| Mapped soil | 458,400 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Hamerly | 10% | n/a |
| Barnes | 6% | 20% |
| Heimdal | 6% | n/a |
| Tonka | 4% | n/a |
| Vallers | 4% | n/a |
| Binford | 4% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND039 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 65% of Griggs 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: 16.34 in, 4.65 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 20.99 in.
USDA rates 69% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
95.3% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 12 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 8 weeks, most recently on the September 29, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 95.3% |
| D2 severe or worse | 9% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Griggs County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 20.99 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 16.34 in (-4.65) |
| 2025 | 21.03 in (+0.04) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2019: 28.85 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1936: 9.28 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at MC HENRY 3W (21 mi away) | 4 |
Homes
| Housing units | 1,360 |
| Median year built | 1958 |
| Built before 1980 | 81% |
| Built 2000 or later | 7% |
| Owner-occupied | 77% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $119,300 |
| Single-family detached | 82% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steele County, ND | 24 mi | 11% | 67% |
| Foster County, ND | 30 mi | 11% | 70% |
| Nelson County, ND | 32 mi | 19% | 71% |
| Eddy County, ND | 36 mi | 6% | 63% |
| Barnes County, ND | 36 mi | 18% | 63% |
| Stutsman County, ND | 48 mi | 15% | 40% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 49 mi | 9% | 83% |
| Traill County, ND | 50 mi | 36% | 94% |
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