HomeTexasNueces CountyRobstown
Robstown, Texas
Inside Robstown's city limits, shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 90% of mapped land, the 5th-highest of 8 cities in Nueces County. A shallow water table limits basements on 2%, the 5th-highest of 8 cities in Nueces County.
That clay share is above Nueces County's 56%. FEMA's flood data list 90 flood losses since 2016 in ZIP code 78380 overlapping the city. Of its 4,315 homes, 80% were built before 1980; the median dates from 1970.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources · in Nueces 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 Robstown
Foundation repair in Robstown: shrink-swell clay limits slab homes on 90% of Robstown's mapped land, more than in 97% of Texas cities.
About 3,400 of Robstown's 4,315 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 Robstown city limits
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 90.1% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 1.8% |
| Septic fields very limited | 95.6% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 17.0% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 90.1% |
| Mapped soil | 8,305 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: expansive clay |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 82% | 99% |
| Banquete | 5% | n/a |
| Orelia | 5% | n/a |
| Raymondville | 3% | n/a |
| Cranell | 2% | n/a |
| Edroy | 2% | n/a |
What the numbers mean here
Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 17.0% by land area here, and 90% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 90% of the mapped land.
Clay shrinks as it dries: 100% of Nueces County is in drought on the latest map, and 90% of Robstown's mapped land has shrink-swell clay.
USDA rates 96% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.
Drought in Nueces County
100% of Nueces 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 Robstown. ZIP areas reach past city limits.
| ZIP | Share of city land | Flood losses | Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| 78380 | 100% | 90 | $857,914 |
Homes in Robstown
| Housing units | 4,315 |
| Median year built | 1970 |
| Built before 1980 | 80% |
| Built 2000 or later | 9% |
| Owner-occupied | 64% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $103,000 |
| Single-family detached | 79% |
Nearby cities
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petronila | 9 mi | 93% | 1% |
| Driscoll | 10 mi | 93% | 1% |
| Odem | 12 mi | 30% | 3% |
| San Patricio | 15 mi | 39% | 18% |
| Agua Dulce | 15 mi | 97% | 1% |
| Bishop | 16 mi | 96% | 3% |
| Sinton | 20 mi | 15% | 4% |
| Orange Grove | 20 mi | 82% | under 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