1. Start with the service area, not a population assumption
The Census record identifies Marengo as a city in McHenry County, Illinois. It records a 2020–2024 ACS 5-year population estimate of 7,040, with a margin of error of 441. Those figures can help you describe the place your firm serves, but they cannot establish how many people search for a lawyer, how many firms compete for attention, or how many matters may result. Your first AI SEO decision is therefore geographic: which locations does your firm actually serve, and which should be represented on the site?
Recommended approach
Review whether Marengo is a primary service location, one community within a wider McHenry County footprint, or one of several Illinois locations. Keep city, county, metropolitan-area and statewide statements distinct. Do not publish a Marengo page merely because a population figure exists. Publish or revise location coverage when it reflects your actual practice and helps a potential client understand whether contacting the firm is appropriate.
