Cameron County, TX Shrink-Swell Risk

Cameron County's SSURGO shrink-swell reading

High

In Cameron County, TX, 32.6% of the surveyed soil carries a "High" shrink-swell rating, 7.73% linear extensibility on average. Soil at this level can crack a standard foundation without moisture-control measures - consistent watering near the foundation, correct grading, root barriers - or added structural design.

Before you rely on this for one address

Cameron County's reading is an average across the whole county, not a promise about any one lot inside it. A site-specific soil report, usually $1,000-$5,000, is what an engineer would actually pull before designing a foundation on a lot in Cameron County.

Budgeting for Cameron County, TX

With Cameron County, TX rating "High", the gap between finding out early and finding out late is the whole decision. A geotechnical report runs $1,000-$5,000 (typically $2,700); an actual foundation repair, once cracking sets in, typically runs $5,000-$15,000 (around $10,000 typical) - roughly 4x the report.

Where this sits nationally

Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Cameron County, TX ranks 64 most-constrained nationally, and 19 of 253 within Texas. The county spans 892 square miles, home to 431,874 people.

For contrast

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Skagit County, WA and Sumner County, KS are worth a look for comparison.

How this reading is built, and its real limits · The warning signs of expansive-clay damage, explained

Elsewhere in Texas

Every county in Texas is on this site, including Hopkins County, TX and Panola County, TX. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.