CREATE TABLE table_249512_2 (a_ VARCHAR, county_ies__ VARCHAR, place_name VARCHAR)

How many counties have a place name of Macedonia?
SELECT COUNT(county_ies__) AS "a_" FROM table_249512_2 WHERE place_name = "Macedonia"
SELECT COUNT("county_ies__") AS "a_" FROM "table_249512_2" WHERE "Macedonia" = "place_name"