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McHenry County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 73% of McHenry County's mapped land, a higher share than 84% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 9%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map, after 3.9% a week earlier. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 72% 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 McHenry County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 9.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 73.2% |
| Septic fields very limited | 78.6% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.6% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 9.4% |
| Mapped soil | 1,223,800 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Hecla | 9% | n/a |
| Ulen | 6% | n/a |
| Barnes | 5% | 20% |
| Aylmer | 4% | n/a |
| Lohnes | 4% | n/a |
| Towner | 3% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND049 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
On 73% of McHenry 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: 15.73 in, 2.23 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 17.96 in.
USDA rates 79% 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 10 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 96.9% 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 | 13.1% |
| 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 McHenry County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 17.96 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 15.73 in (-2.23) |
| 2025 | 17.43 in (-0.53) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2010: 24.45 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1934: 8.72 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at TOWNER 2 NE (15 mi away) | 3.6 |
Homes
| Housing units | 2,833 |
| Median year built | 1966 |
| Built before 1980 | 72% |
| Built 2000 or later | 13% |
| Owner-occupied | 81% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $151,000 |
| Single-family detached | 83% |
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% |
| Bottineau County, ND | 40 mi | 18% | 83% |
| Ward County, ND | 42 mi | 12% | 44% |
| Sheridan County, ND | 47 mi | 15% | 31% |
| Rolette County, ND | 52 mi | 19% | 62% |
| McLean County, ND | 54 mi | 9% | 13% |
| Renville County, ND | 57 mi | 6% | 86% |
| Benson County, ND | 60 mi | 12% | 69% |
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