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Nelson County, North Dakota
A shallow water table limits basements on 71% of Nelson County's mapped land, a higher share than 82% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 19%.
7.9% 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. 78% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1963.
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 Nelson County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 19.2% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 71.4% |
| Septic fields very limited | 69.5% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 4.2% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 21.4% |
| Mapped soil | 648,320 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Hamerly | 11% | n/a |
| Barnes | 10% | 20% |
| Vallers | 8% | n/a |
| Balaton | 8% | n/a |
| Svea | 8% | n/a |
| Buse | 7% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas ND063 (2026-05-04)
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 4.2% by land area here, and 21% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 19% of the mapped land.
Clay shrinks as it dries: 7.9% of the county is in drought on the latest map, and 19% of Nelson County's mapped land has shrink-swell clay.
On 71% of Nelson 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: 18.54 in, 2.28 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 20.82 in.
USDA rates 70% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought
7.9% 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 99.9% 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 | 89.3% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 7.9% |
| 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 Nelson County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 20.82 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 18.54 in (-2.28) |
| 2025 | 19.82 in (-1.00) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2019: 27.33 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1936: 9.65 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at PETERSBURG 2 N (12 mi away) | 4 |
Homes
| Housing units | 1,783 |
| Median year built | 1963 |
| Built before 1980 | 78% |
| Built 2000 or later | 10% |
| Owner-occupied | 75% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $139,700 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griggs County, ND | 32 mi | 12% | 65% |
| Ramsey County, ND | 34 mi | 24% | 85% |
| Grand Forks County, ND | 35 mi | 9% | 83% |
| Eddy County, ND | 35 mi | 6% | 63% |
| Walsh County, ND | 39 mi | 21% | 80% |
| Steele County, ND | 39 mi | 11% | 67% |
| Foster County, ND | 44 mi | 11% | 70% |
| Benson County, ND | 54 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