Ramsey County, ND Shrink-Swell Risk

Shrink-swell potential in Ramsey County, ND

Moderate

Soil across 54.7% of Ramsey County, ND comes back "Moderate" in USDA's shrink-swell data, averaging 3.72% 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 Ramsey County, ND - 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).

Ramsey County: the real numbers

Ramsey 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, Ramsey County, ND ranks 714 most-constrained nationally, and 6 of 53 within North Dakota. Ramsey County, ND is 1,185 square miles with a population of 11,510.

Before you act on this

Orleans Parish, LA carries this site's most-constrained reading. Butler County, OH and Bartow County, GA 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 North Dakota

Every county in North Dakota is on this site, including Bottineau County, ND and Divide County, ND. The full underlying dataset is downloadable directly, one row per county.