HomeSouth CarolinaRichland County

Richland County, South Carolina

A shallow water table limits basements on 47% of Richland County's mapped land, a higher share than 64% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.

99.6% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 118 flood losses here since 2016, 4% of them in buildings with basements. 38% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1989.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

0%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

47%

high water table: limits basements

100%

in drought, October 13, 2026

38%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Richland County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)0.0%
High water table (limits basements)46.9%
Septic fields very limited69.1%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)2.1%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)0.0%
Urban land, not rated3.4%
Mapped soil493,700 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: high water table
Nanford9%n/a
Tawcaw9%n/a
Lakeland8%0%
Georgeville8%0%
Pelion6%n/a
Vaucluse6%n/a
Lexington County: 24%Calhoun County: 36%Kershaw County: 29%Fairfield County: 15%Sumter County: 63%Lee County: 63%Orangeburg County: 77%Newberry County: 28%Richland County LexingtonCalhounKershawFairfieldSumterLeeOrangeburgNewberryRichland
Richland County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by high water table share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas SC079 (2025-08-29)

What the numbers mean here

On 47% of Richland 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: 33.68 in, 11.83 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 45.51 in.

USDA rates 69% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

Drought

99.6% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 43 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 24 weeks, most recently on the September 22, 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 worse99.6%
D2 severe or worse34.9%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

118 flood losses since 2016, $1.3 million paid. The worst year was 2024, with 27. Foundations of the buildings, where recorded: 4% basements, 24% slabs, 43% crawl spaces, 29% elevated. Median water depth outside the building: 7 in.

YearFlood losses
201627
201717
201810
20193
202011
20218
20228
20233
202427
20252
2026 to date2

Rain

Average year, 1991-202045.51 in
12 months to August 202633.68 in (-11.83)
202543.18 in (-2.33)
Wettest year since 18951964: 67.55 in
Driest year since 18951954: 26.26 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at SANDHILL RSCH - ELGIN (7 mi away)13.3

Homes

Housing units187,611
Median year built1989
Built before 198038%
Built 2000 or later36%
Owner-occupied60%
Median value, owner-occupied$242,800
Single-family detached64%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Basement waterproofing, US $3,000 to $10,000 Fixr, February 6, 2026
Sump pump installation, US $800 to $2,000 Fixr, January 31, 2025
Crawl space encapsulation, US $2,000 to $8,000 Fixr, August 29, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Lexington County, SC 23 mi 2% 24%
Calhoun County, SC 25 mi 0% 36%
Kershaw County, SC 28 mi under 1% 29%
Fairfield County, SC 28 mi 1% 15%
Sumter County, SC 31 mi 0% 63%
Lee County, SC 38 mi 0% 63%
Orangeburg County, SC 41 mi 0% 77%
Newberry County, SC 44 mi 13% 28%

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