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Galena Park, Texas
Inside Galena Park's city limits, shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 67% of mapped land, the 3rd-highest of 27 cities in Harris County. A shallow water table limits basements on 59%, the 4th-highest of 27 cities in Harris County.
That clay share is above Harris County's 25%. FEMA's flood data list 860 flood losses since 2016 in the 3 ZIP codes overlapping the city. Of its 3,367 homes, 92% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1956.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Harris County
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
flood losses since 2016 in 3 overlapping ZIPs
of homes built before 1980
Foundation repair in Galena Park
Foundation repair in Galena Park: shrink-swell clay limits slab homes on 67% of Galena Park's mapped land, more than in 72% of Texas cities.
About 2,900 of Galena Park's 3,367 homes are detached houses.
| Who designs the repair | The ASCE Texas Section's repair guidelines say a Texas-licensed engineer should evaluate the foundation and design the repair (2022 guidelines) |
| Prices | Cost guide ranges compared |
Soil under Galena Park city limits
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 66.9% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 59.0% |
| Septic fields very limited | 81.7% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 7.7% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 66.9% |
| Urban land, not rated | 15.6% |
| Mapped soil | 3,155 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: expansive clay |
|---|---|---|
| Verland | 32% | n/a |
| Ijam | 22% | n/a |
| Bacliff | 8% | n/a |
| Texla | 7% | n/a |
| Lake Charles | 6% | 97% |
| Aris | 4% | n/a |
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 7.7% by land area here, and 67% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 67% of the mapped land.
Clay shrinks as it dries: 82.9% of Harris County is in drought on the latest map, and 67% of Galena Park's mapped land has shrink-swell clay.
On 59% of Galena Park's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
USDA rates 82% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought in Harris County
82.9% of Harris County is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. County detail.
Flood losses by ZIP code
FEMA flood records since 2016 in the ZIP codes that overlap Galena Park. ZIP areas reach past city limits.
| ZIP | Share of city land | Flood losses | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 77547 | 70% | 59 | $2.6 million |
| 77015 | 17% | 533 | $48.2 million |
| 77029 | 13% | 268 | $21.6 million |
Homes in Galena Park
| Housing units | 3,367 |
| Median year built | 1956 |
| Built before 1980 | 92% |
| Built 2000 or later | 7% |
| Owner-occupied | 71% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $117,700 |
| Single-family detached | 88% |
Nearby cities
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacinto City | 1 mi | 55% | 23% |
| South Houston | 6 mi | 53% | 6% |
| Pasadena | 8 mi | 53% | 37% |
| Deer Park | 8 mi | 58% | 74% |
| Houston | 10 mi | 29% | 48% |
| Brookside Village | 12 mi | 69% | 56% |
| West University Place | 12 mi | 56% | 48% |
| Southside Place | 12 mi | 63% | 57% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (August 5, 2026) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status