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Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on 2% of Scotts Bluff County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 11%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. 100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map.

FEMA's flood data list 4 flood losses here since 2016. 73% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1969.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

2%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

11%

high water table: limits basements

100%

in drought, October 13, 2026

73%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Scotts Bluff County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)1.8%
High water table (limits basements)10.5%
Septic fields very limited48.3%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)1.7%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)1.8%
Mapped soil476,467 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Mitchell23%n/a
Tripp8%n/a
Bridget6%n/a
Otero6%n/a
Bayard6%n/a
Tassel5%n/a
Banner County: 0%Goshen County: 1%Morrill County: 0%Box Butte County: 2%Sioux County: 12%Kimball County: 1%Cheyenne County: 1%Laramie County: 1%Scotts Bluff County BannerGoshenMorrillBox ButteSiouxKimballCheyenneLaramieScotts Bluff
Scotts Bluff 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 NE157 (2025-09-08)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 10.52 in, 4.88 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 15.40 in.

With shrink-swell clay on 2% and a shallow water table on 11% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Scotts Bluff County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

Drought

100% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 52 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 43 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 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 worse100%
D2 severe or worse100%
D3 extreme or worse99.9%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

4 flood losses since 2016, $1,331 paid. The worst year was 2018, with 2.

YearFlood losses
20161
20170
20182
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20241
20250
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202015.40 in
12 months to August 202610.52 in (-4.88)
202515.45 in (+0.05)
Wettest year since 18951915: 27.01 in
Driest year since 18952012: 6.52 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at SCOTTSBLUFF HEILIG AP (6 mi away)2

Homes

Housing units16,480
Median year built1969
Built before 198073%
Built 2000 or later14%
Owner-occupied69%
Median value, owner-occupied$168,500
Single-family detached76%

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
Banner County, NE 21 mi under 1% 2%
Goshen County, WY 37 mi 1% 2%
Morrill County, NE 38 mi under 1% 13%
Box Butte County, NE 40 mi 2% 5%
Sioux County, NE 43 mi 12% 1%
Kimball County, NE 45 mi 1% 1%
Cheyenne County, NE 57 mi 1% 2%
Laramie County, WY 63 mi 1% 2%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 8, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status