Jefferson County, WV Shrink-Swell Risk
Shrink-swell potential in Jefferson County, WV
Moderate
Soil across 35.1% of Jefferson County, WV comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 4.12% 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, WV - never a reading for one specific parcel. 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 Jefferson County.
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, WV ranks 511 most-constrained nationally, and 3 of 55 within West Virginia. The county spans 209 square miles, home to 61,264 people.
Before you act on this
Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Valencia County, NM and Warren County, NY 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 West Virginia
Every county in West Virginia is on this site, including Jackson County, WV and Roane County, WV. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.