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Pittsylvania County, Virginia

USDA's soil survey flags shrink-swell clay on 5% of Pittsylvania County's mapped land and a shallow water table under basements on 9%, both below the national shares of 15% and 29%. 100% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map.

FEMA's flood data list 5 flood losses here since 2016. 48% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1981.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

5%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

9%

high water table: limits basements

100%

in drought, October 13, 2026

48%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Pittsylvania County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)5.4%
High water table (limits basements)8.9%
Septic fields very limited75.5%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)2.5%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)4.3%
Mapped soil643,205 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Clifford35%0%
Poplar Forest15%n/a
Fairview11%0%
Clover9%n/a
Nathalie6%n/a
Minnieville4%n/a
Danville city: 2%Halifax County: 14%Martinsville city: 0%Franklin County: 1%Caswell County: 35%Campbell County: 4%Bedford County: 1%Henry County: 0%Pittsylvania County Danville cityHalifaxMartinsville cityFranklinCaswellCampbellBedfordHenryPittsylvania
Pittsylvania County (heavy outline) and nearby counties, shaded by expansive clay share.under 10%10-25%25-40%40-60%60%+

How we count · survey areas VA143 (2025-09-05)

What the numbers mean here

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 29.39 in, 16.86 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 46.25 in.

USDA rates 76% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

With shrink-swell clay on 5% and a shallow water table on 9% of the land, the soil survey points to neither problem across most of Pittsylvania County; conditions still vary lot by lot.

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 52 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 48 weeks, most recently on the October 13, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse100%
D1 moderate drought or worse100%
D2 severe or worse98.1%
D3 extreme or worse17.5%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

5 flood losses since 2016, $184,212 paid. The worst year was 2018, with 4.

YearFlood losses
20160
20171
20184
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202046.25 in
12 months to August 202629.39 in (-16.86)
202540.48 in (-5.77)
Wettest year since 18952018: 70.35 in
Driest year since 18951930: 28.31 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at CHATHAM (1 mi away)12.7

Homes

Housing units29,443
Median year built1981
Built before 198048%
Built 2000 or later18%
Owner-occupied79%
Median value, owner-occupied$161,400
Single-family detached78%

What repairs cost

Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.

WorkRangeSource
Foundation repair, US $2,200 to $8,200 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Pier-and-beam repair, US $2,000 to $15,000 Fixr, January 27, 2026
Foundation inspection, US $300 to $600 Fixr, January 31, 2025

Nearby counties

PlaceDistanceExpansive clayHigh water table
Danville city, VA 17 mi 2% 2%
Halifax County, VA 26 mi 14% 21%
Martinsville city, VA 27 mi under 1% under 1%
Franklin County, VA 29 mi 1% 2%
Caswell County, NC 30 mi 35% 21%
Campbell County, VA 32 mi 4% 12%
Bedford County, VA 35 mi 1% 5%
Henry County, VA 35 mi under 1% 1%

Sources: USDA SSURGO (September 5, 2025) · US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status