Hardeman County, Tennessee
A shallow water table limits basements on 39% of Hardeman County's mapped land, a higher share than 57% of US counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 7%.
100% 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. 46% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1982.
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 Hardeman County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 6.9% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 38.5% |
| Septic fields very limited | 95.5% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.5% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 6.4% |
| Mapped soil | 429,800 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Smithdale | 26% | 0% |
| Lexington | 15% | n/a |
| Luverne | 9% | n/a |
| Chenneby | 7% | n/a |
| Providence | 6% | n/a |
| Toinette | 4% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas TN069 (2025-08-28)
What the numbers mean here
On 39% of Hardeman 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: 45.15 in, 11.18 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 56.33 in.
USDA rates 95% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
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 27 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 11 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 100% |
| D2 severe or worse | 100% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Hardeman County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 56.33 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 45.15 in (-11.18) |
| 2025 | 54.40 in (-1.93) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1950: 73.93 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1941: 34.28 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at BOLIVAR WTR WKS (3 mi away) | 16.7 |
Homes
| Housing units | 10,750 |
| Median year built | 1982 |
| Built before 1980 | 46% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18% |
| Owner-occupied | 72% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $121,700 |
| Single-family detached | 76% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County, TN | 24 mi | 0% | 71% |
| McNairy County, TN | 24 mi | 5% | 38% |
| Chester County, TN | 25 mi | 4% | 45% |
| Madison County, TN | 28 mi | 0% | 46% |
| Haywood County, TN | 30 mi | 0% | 71% |
| Benton County, MS | 31 mi | 0% | 37% |
| Tippah County, MS | 32 mi | 14% | 49% |
| Alcorn County, MS | 33 mi | 2% | 63% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 28, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status