HomeWest VirginiaDoddridge County

Doddridge County, West Virginia

Shrink-swell clay limits houses without basements on 25% of Doddridge County's mapped land, a higher share than 76% of US counties. A shallow water table limits basements on 7%.

None of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map. FEMA's flood data list 6 flood losses here since 2016. 54% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1977.

Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources

25%

expansive clay: shrink-swell limits slab homes

7%

high water table: limits basements

0%

in drought, October 13, 2026

54%

of homes built before 1980

Soil under Doddridge County

Expansive clay (limits slab homes)25.2%
High water table (limits basements)6.8%
Septic fields very limited98.6%
Clay swell (LEP, by area)3.0%
High-swell land (LEP 6%+)2.6%
Mapped soil205,200 acres
Soil seriesShare hereSeries nationally: expansive clay
Gilpin55%0%
Peabody32%n/a
Sensabaugh6%n/a
Upshur3%99%
Vandalia2%n/a
Chagrin1%n/a
Tyler County: 34%Harrison County: 10%Ritchie County: 44%Lewis County: 29%Wetzel County: 27%Pleasants County: 32%Gilmer County: 26%Marion County: 11%Doddridge County TylerHarrisonRitchieLewisWetzelPleasantsGilmerMarionDoddridge
Doddridge 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 WV017 (2025-09-05)

What the numbers mean here

Clay swell averages a linear extensibility of 3.0% by land area here, and 3% of the land reaches USDA's high class (6% or more). Clay like that swells when wet and shrinks when dry, under 25% of the mapped land.

Rain over the 12 months to August 2026: 50.52 in, 1.81 in above the 1991-2020 average year of 48.71 in.

USDA rates 99% of the land very limited for septic absorption fields.

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 7 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 5 weeks, most recently on the May 19, 2026 map.

October 21, 2025Share of area in drought, weeklyOctober 13, 2026
Category, October 13, 2026Share of county
D0 abnormally dry or worse0%
D1 moderate drought or worse0%
D2 severe or worse0%
D3 extreme or worse0%
D4 exceptional0%

Flood losses since 2016

6 flood losses since 2016, $87,966 paid. The worst year was 2024, with 2.

YearFlood losses
20160
20170
20180
20190
20201
20210
20221
20231
20242
20251
2026 to date0

Rain

Average year, 1991-202048.71 in
12 months to August 202650.52 in (+1.81)
202545.20 in (-3.51)
Wettest year since 18952018: 67.55 in
Driest year since 18951930: 24.63 in
Days with 1 inch or more, normal at W UNION 2 (4 mi away)10.5

Homes

Housing units3,235
Median year built1977
Built before 198054%
Built 2000 or later16%
Owner-occupied89%
Median value, owner-occupied$160,800
Single-family detached80%

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
Tyler County, WV 16 mi 34% 9%
Harrison County, WV 17 mi 10% 19%
Ritchie County, WV 20 mi 44% 10%
Lewis County, WV 22 mi 29% 4%
Wetzel County, WV 23 mi 27% 7%
Pleasants County, WV 25 mi 32% 5%
Gilmer County, WV 25 mi 26% 5%
Marion County, WV 30 mi 11% 23%

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