1. Start with the right Baldwin geography
The U.S. Census Bureau records Baldwin township as a municipal-town in Sherburne County, Minnesota. Its 2020–2024 ACS 5-year population estimate is 7,076, with a margin of error of 26. That is geographic and population context, not proof of search demand, competition, calls, cases or revenue. A law firm should therefore avoid treating “Baldwin” as a complete market definition without deciding whether its actual service area includes other places in Sherburne County, nearby metropolitan areas or Minnesota more broadly. The dashboard’s value depends on recording those distinctions rather than combining them into one unexplained total.
Recommended approach
At consultation, define each tracked location as a separate reporting question. Ask whether a result belongs to Baldwin township, Sherburne County, another municipality or a wider Minnesota target. Require the firm to approve the location list and practice-area labels before using geographic trends to make budget decisions.
