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Jefferson, Texas
Inside Jefferson's city limits, shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 4% of mapped land. A shallow water table limits basements on 68%.
That clay share is close to Marion County's 4%. FEMA's flood data list 11 flood losses since 2016 in ZIP code 75657 overlapping the city. Of its 1,144 homes, 53% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1979.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Marion County
expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes
high water table: limits basements
flood losses since 2016 in 1 overlapping ZIP
of homes built before 1980
Foundation repair in Jefferson
Foundation repair in Jefferson: shrink-swell clay limits slab homes on 4% of Jefferson's mapped land.
About 700 of Jefferson's 1,144 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 Jefferson city limits
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 3.9% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 67.9% |
| Septic fields very limited | 83.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.9% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 5.5% |
| Mapped soil | 2,855 acres |
What the numbers mean here
On 68% of Jefferson's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
USDA rates 84% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought in Marion County
100% of Marion 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 Jefferson. ZIP areas reach past city limits.
| ZIP | Share of city land | Flood losses | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75657 | 100% | 11 | $249,263 |
Homes in Jefferson
| Housing units | 1,144 |
| Median year built | 1979 |
| Built before 1980 | 53% |
| Built 2000 or later | 6% |
| Owner-occupied | 54% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $148,600 |
| Single-family detached | 61% |
Nearby cities
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncertain | 13 mi | 63% | 77% |
| Avinger | 15 mi | 0% | 37% |
| Marshall | 15 mi | 6% | 38% |
| Scottsville | 17 mi | 19% | 44% |
| Linden | 17 mi | 0% | 23% |
| Ore City | 21 mi | 0% | 49% |
| Hallsville | 22 mi | 26% | 71% |
| Hughes Springs | 23 mi | 0% | 18% |
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