Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historic mining town in Wales, in the historical area of Merionethshire, although now part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the community of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, consisting of the neighboring village of Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the 4th most heavily populated community in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, as well as Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 places the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog went to once the second largest town in North Wales, behind just Wrexham. After getting to 12,000 at the peak growth of the slate sector, the population dropped with the decline in the demand for its slate. Today the community depends greatly on tourists, that come for attractions that consist of the nearby Ffestiniog Railway and also Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate market declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has also declined, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourist market has ended up being the town's largest employer. The restored Ffestiniog Railway and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are prominent tourist destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill hill cycling centre. Current destinations consist of the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which additionally now features the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.