1. Start with the firm’s actual service area, not a guessed market
Birch Bay is a census-designated place in Whatcom County, Washington. The 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimate records 10,837 people, with a margin of error of 1,030.
Recommended approach
List the geographic labels the firm actually uses in intake and reporting. Keep Birch Bay, Whatcom County and any wider Washington service area distinct. Then decide whether location is a field for routing, reporting, eligibility review or communication.
