1. Start with the service area, not a population claim
Meridian is a municipality in Mississippi, and the cited Census record places it in Lauderdale County. The 2020–2024 ACS five-year population estimate for Meridian city is 34,137, with a margin of error of 45. That figure describes the city’s population; it does not establish legal demand, search volume, competition, case volume, leads, or revenue. For reputation work, the useful geographic decision is whether your firm serves only Meridian, Meridian plus other Lauderdale County communities, or a wider Mississippi area. Reviews should support the geography your firm actually serves rather than implying that every nearby searcher is a prospective client.
Recommended approach
Define the service area you want to evaluate before reviewing performance. Separate Meridian city from Lauderdale County and from any broader Mississippi practice area. Then examine whether your Google Business Profile, review language, website pages, and inquiry records accurately reflect that scope.
