1. Start with the geographic question, not a population forecast
La Grande is a municipality in Union County, Oregon. The Census population estimate describes the city, not the number of households seeking legal help, the size of a practice area, or the demand for a particular service. It also says nothing about search volume, competition, lead quality, or revenue. That distinction matters when you review attribution: a record should preserve the geographic context that your firm uses operationally, such as La Grande or Union County, rather than turning a population figure into a marketing conclusion.
Recommended approach
Define the geographic labels your firm wants to review before discussing performance. Decide whether a lead is relevant because the person is in La Grande, elsewhere in Union County, or outside the area you serve. Then ask how those distinctions will appear in intake and reporting. Keep the population estimate as context only; do not use it as a forecast.
