53 counties mapped. On average, 21% of North Dakota county soil area is high shrink-swell clay (USDA SSURGO).
Higher percentages mean more of a county's mapped soil is shrink-swell clay that expands and contracts with moisture. This is county-scale exposure, not a diagnosis of any single home — but it tells you whether soil movement belongs on your radar.
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Before you call a foundation company →| County | Tier | High-risk % | Moderate % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass | Severe | 45% | 29% |
| Hettinger | Severe | 44% | 12% |
| Traill | Severe | 39% | 28% |
| Stark | Severe | 38% | 14% |
| Burke | Severe | 38% | 54% |
| Richland | Severe | 36% | 18% |
| Adams | Severe | 35% | 12% |
| Sioux | Severe | 34% | 8% |
| Morton | Severe | 33% | 18% |
| Bowman | Severe | 33% | 18% |
| Cavalier | Severe | 31% | 47% |
| Pembina | High | 30% | 28% |
| Ramsey | High | 28% | 40% |
| Divide | High | 27% | 62% |
| Billings | High | 26% | 23% |
| Grant | High | 24% | 13% |
| Slope | High | 24% | 20% |
| Dunn | High | 24% | 29% |
| Walsh | High | 24% | 46% |
| Rolette | High | 22% | 33% |
| Nelson | High | 21% | 41% |
| Dickey | High | 21% | 54% |
| Bottineau | High | 21% | 44% |
| Towner | High | 20% | 46% |
| Barnes | High | 19% | 49% |
| McKenzie | High | 17% | 39% |
| LaMoure | High | 17% | 66% |
| Sheridan | High | 17% | 50% |
| Mercer | High | 16% | 44% |
| Sargent | High | 16% | 52% |
| Stutsman | High | 16% | 60% |
| Benson | High | 16% | 30% |
| McIntosh | Moderate | 15% | 55% |
| Emmons | Moderate | 14% | 49% |
| Oliver | Moderate | 14% | 56% |
| Ward | Moderate | 14% | 72% |
| Griggs | Moderate | 14% | 33% |
| Renville | Moderate | 14% | 71% |
| Mountrail | Moderate | 13% | 68% |
| Burleigh | Moderate | 13% | 58% |
| Logan | Moderate | 12% | 57% |
| Steele | Moderate | 12% | 48% |
| Ransom | Moderate | 12% | 39% |
| Foster | Moderate | 11% | 34% |
| McLean | Moderate | 11% | 66% |
| Grand Forks | Moderate | 10% | 55% |
| Wells | Moderate | 10% | 36% |
| McHenry | Moderate | 9% | 27% |
| Kidder | Moderate | 9% | 43% |
| Pierce | Moderate | 9% | 14% |
| Williams | Moderate | 8% | 67% |
| Golden Valley | Moderate | 8% | 26% |
| Eddy | Moderate | 6% | 16% |
Risk metrics are computed from USDA SSURGO soil survey data (linear extensibility of soil components, area-weighted by county). Soil varies lot to lot — this is county-scale context, not a substitute for a site-specific geotechnical or structural assessment.