__ Note above "First Class Counties, those having a population of 1,500,000 inhabitants and over" . . . and Phila has been the only county to meet that definition.  Until recently.  In the 2000 census, the population was close to this threshhold and unofficial census counts in 2004 place the population at 1.47 million.  My understanding is that First Class Counties have certain rights not available to inferior classes, although I have yet to find the reference.  I wonder what that bodes for the city, er, county, er... whatever.  NIKKO