1. Use Rolla and Phelps County to define the footprint—not to predict demand
The available Census record places Rolla city in Phelps County and reports a population estimate of 20,287 for the 2020–2024 ACS five-year period, with a margin of error of 43. That is geographic and population context. It is not evidence that people in Rolla search for a particular lawyer, that a practice area has weak or strong competition, or that additional pages would produce cases. A responsible evaluation should distinguish Rolla city, the rest of Phelps County, other Missouri counties, and any cities outside the county. Those are different audiences and should not be blended into one promise.
Recommended approach
List the cities and counties where the firm actually accepts matters, then separate current service territory from possible expansion territory. Ask Bosseo to review whether a footprint limited to selected counties is more appropriate than a broader Missouri scope. The decision should follow intake capacity, licensure and service boundaries, not population alone.
