1. Start with the actual Granite City service area
Granite City’s recorded county relationship is Madison County. That gives you a defensible starting point for a county-level discussion, but it does not mean every firm should target every city in the county or all of Illinois. Your intake records, attorney licensure, court coverage, consultation policy, and travel preferences should determine the geographic boundary. Bosseo’s public page describes a choice between a whole-state footprint and coverage limited to selected counties. The relevant question is therefore not whether Granite City has a particular population size; it is whether Madison County, nearby counties, or a wider Illinois footprint reflects where you accept matters.
Recommended approach
Ask Bosseo to map the proposed footprint to your real service boundaries. Separate Granite City from Madison County and from any metropolitan area you may serve. Do not use the ACS population estimate as a forecast of demand. Use it only as location evidence when deciding whether Granite City belongs in the geographic plan.
