Jefferson County, NE Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Jefferson County, NE

Moderate

Soil across 49% of Jefferson County, NE comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 5.41% linear extensibility. That's a middle reading: not the sharp swings that crack a foundation outright, but enough that grading and drainage are worth getting right.

What this number does and doesn't tell you

This is a countywide, area-weighted figure across every soil survey map unit in Jefferson County, NE - never a reading for one specific parcel. The real answer for one lot is still a site-specific geotechnical report, running about $1,000-$5,000 (typically near $2,700).

Jefferson County: the real numbers

Jefferson County's soil reading points toward standard foundation practice as the likely outcome, not the exception. A geotechnical report runs $1,000-$5,000, typically around $2,700. Foundation repair, if a specific lot turns out to differ from the county average, runs $5,000-$15,000.

Where this sits nationally

Among the 3,085 rated counties on this site, Jefferson County, NE ranks 227 most-constrained nationally, and 9 of 93 within Nebraska. The county spans 570 square miles, home to 7,136 people.

Before you act on this

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Outagamie County, WI and Swisher County, TX are worth a look for comparison.

How this reading is built, and its real limits · Moisture management: the cheap fix that works on any soil

Elsewhere in Nebraska

Every county in Nebraska is on this site, including Otoe County, NE and Greeley County, NE. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.