HomeTexasJim Wells CountyPremont
Premont, Texas
Inside Premont's city limits, shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 49% of mapped land, the 2nd-highest of 3 cities in Jim Wells County. A shallow water table limits basements on 24%, the highest of 3 cities in Jim Wells County.
That clay share is above Jim Wells County's 27%. FEMA's flood data list 4 flood losses since 2016 in ZIP code 78375 overlapping the city. Of its 1,276 homes, 61% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1974.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Jim Wells 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 Premont
Foundation repair in Premont: shrink-swell clay limits slab homes on 49% of Premont's mapped land, more than in 56% of Texas cities.
About 900 of Premont's 1,276 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 Premont city limits
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 49.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 24.4% |
| Septic fields very limited | 87.9% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 5.9% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 47.7% |
| Mapped soil | 1,082 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: expansive clay |
|---|---|---|
| Delfina | 33% | n/a |
| Papalote | 31% | n/a |
| Papagua | 10% | n/a |
| Edroy | 8% | n/a |
| Opelika | 6% | n/a |
| Runge | 2% | n/a |
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 5.9% by land area here, and 48% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 49% of the mapped land.
Clay shrinks as it dries: 100% of Jim Wells County is in drought on the latest map, and 49% of Premont's mapped land has shrink-swell clay.
On 24% of Premont's mapped land, soil stays saturated within about 6 feet of the surface for part of the year, which is basement depth.
USDA rates 88% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought in Jim Wells County
100% of Jim Wells 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 Premont. ZIP areas reach past city limits.
| ZIP | Share of city land | Flood losses | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78375 | 100% | 4 | $19,812 |
Homes in Premont
| Housing units | 1,276 |
| Median year built | 1974 |
| Built before 1980 | 61% |
| Built 2000 or later | 8% |
| Owner-occupied | 59% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $89,800 |
| Single-family detached | 73% |
Nearby cities
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Falfurrias | 9 mi | 6% | 14% |
| Kingsville | 19 mi | 62% | 1% |
| Benavides | 24 mi | 10% | under 1% |
| Bishop | 25 mi | 96% | 3% |
| Alice | 28 mi | 49% | 14% |
| San Diego | 29 mi | 36% | 2% |
| Driscoll | 32 mi | 93% | 1% |
| Agua Dulce | 32 mi | 97% | 1% |
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