Powhatan County, Virginia
A shallow water table limits basements on 23% of Powhatan County's mapped land. Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 12%.
None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list no flood losses here since 2016. 23% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1996.
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 Powhatan County
| Expansive clay (limits slab homes) | 11.9% |
| High water table (limits basements) | 23.4% |
| Septic fields very limited | 40.2% |
| Clay swell (LEP, by area) | 2.8% |
| High-swell land (LEP 6%+) | 11.9% |
| Mapped soil | 169,200 acres |
How we count · survey areas VA145 (2025-09-05)
What the numbers mean here
On 23% of Powhatan County'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: 36.36 in, 9.30 in below the 1991-2020 average year of 45.66 in.
Drought
0% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 42 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 20 weeks, most recently on the August 4, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 0% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 0% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
FEMA's flood data list no flood losses in Powhatan County since 2016.
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 45.66 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 36.36 in (-9.30) |
| 2025 | 46.86 in (+1.20) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 2003: 65.88 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 1930: 24.23 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at CROZIER (8 mi away) | 11.9 |
Homes
| Housing units | 12,021 |
| Median year built | 1996 |
| Built before 1980 | 23% |
| Built 2000 or later | 41% |
| Owner-occupied | 93% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $416,000 |
| Single-family detached | 95% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goochland County, VA | 12 mi | 11% | 23% |
| Amelia County, VA | 15 mi | 11% | 21% |
| Cumberland County, VA | 19 mi | 17% | 29% |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 21 mi | 11% | 42% |
| Richmond city, VA | 24 mi | 0% | 21% |
| Hanover County, VA | 27 mi | 3% | 43% |
| Fluvanna County, VA | 28 mi | 2% | 17% |
| Nottoway County, VA | 29 mi | 6% | 20% |
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