HomeSouth CarolinaPickens County

Pickens County, South Carolina

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on under 1% of Pickens County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 7%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map, after 10.3% a week earlier.

FEMA's flood data list 22 flood losses here since 2016. 35% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1989.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

<1%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

7%

high water table: limits basements

0%

in drought, October 13, 2026

35%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Pickens County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)0.1%
High water table (limits basements)7.0%
Septic fields very limited67.9%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)1.8%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)0.1%
Mapped soil323,700 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Pacolet45%0%
Cecil21%0%
Evard5%0%
Saluda5%n/a
Hiwassee4%n/a
Edneytown3%n/a
Greenville County: 0%Oconee County: 0%Transylvania County: 0%Anderson County: 0%Henderson County: 0%Jackson County: 0%Rabun County: 0%Hart County: 0%Pickens County GreenvilleOconeeTransylvaniaAndersonHendersonJacksonRabunHartPickens
Pickens 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 SC077 (2025-08-29)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 38.54 in, 20.23 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 58.77 in.

USDA rates 68% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

With shrink-swell clay on under 1% and a shallow water table on 7% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Pickens County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

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 45 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 24 weeks, most recently on the June 16, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse86.6%
D1 moderate drought or worse0%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

22 flood losses since 2016, $1.2 million paid. The worst year was 2024, with 13.

YearFlood losses
20161
20170
20181
20191
20204
20211
20220
20231
202413
20250
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202058.77 in
12 months to August 202638.54 in (-20.23)
202546.87 in (-11.90)
Wettest year since 18952013: 85.60 in
Driest year since 18951925: 37.05 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at PICKENS (0 mi away)16.7

Homes

Housing units58,677
Median year built1989
Built before 198035%
Built 2000 or later29%
Owner-occupied71%
Median value, owner-occupied$231,900
Single-family detached63%

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
Greenville County, SC 20 mi under 1% 11%
Oconee County, SC 21 mi under 1% 5%
Transylvania County, NC 23 mi 0% 6%
Anderson County, SC 26 mi under 1% 11%
Henderson County, NC 34 mi under 1% 10%
Jackson County, NC 36 mi 0% 3%
Rabun County, GA 39 mi 0% 4%
Hart County, GA 40 mi 0% 6%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 29, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status