Franklin city, Virginia
A shallow water table limits basements on 88% of Franklin city's mapped land, a higher share than 95% of US counties and the 3rd highest of 133 Virginia counties. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 0%.
The soil survey maps 46% of the county's land area; these shares describe the mapped part. 100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 3 flood losses here since 2016. 62% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1967.
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 Franklin city
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 0.0% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 88.1% |
| Septic fields very limited | 92.4% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 3.1% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 0.0% |
| Urban land, not rated | 3.9% |
| Mapped soil | 2,448 acres |
| Soil series | Share here | Series nationally: high water table |
|---|---|---|
| Roanoke | 30% | n/a |
| Slagle | 20% | n/a |
| Emporia | 12% | n/a |
| Uchee | 6% | n/a |
| Bibb | 6% | n/a |
| Bojac | 3% | n/a |
How we count · survey areas VA175 (2025-09-08)
What the numbers mean here
On 88% of Franklin city'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: 35.91 in, 13.29 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 49.20 in.
USDA rates 92% 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 41 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 33 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 | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
3 flood losses since 2016, $9,264 paid. The worst year was 2016, with 2.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 49.20 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 35.91 in (-13.29) |
| 2025 | 50.86 in (+1.66) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2020: 69.41 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1930: 30.95 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at HOLLAND 1 E (10 mi away) | 12.7 |
Homes
| Housing units | 3,910 |
| Median year built | 1967 |
| Built before 1980 | 62% |
| Built 2000 or later | 16% |
| Owner-occupied | 54% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $256,600 |
| Single-family detached | 68% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton County, VA | 9 mi | 0% | 91% |
| Suffolk city, VA | 17 mi | 6% | 79% |
| Isle of Wight County, VA | 20 mi | 7% | 73% |
| Gates County, NC | 21 mi | under 1% | 93% |
| Hertford County, NC | 22 mi | 20% | 92% |
| Sussex County, VA | 24 mi | 1% | 96% |
| Surry County, VA | 30 mi | 2% | 75% |
| Northampton County, NC | 31 mi | under 1% | 86% |
Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 8, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status