Blaenau Ffestiniog is a historic mining community in Wales, in the historic county of Merionethshire, although currently part of the unitary authority of Gwynedd. The population of the neighborhood of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, consisting of the nearby village of Llan Ffestiniog, that makes it the 4th most heavily populated community in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, and Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 puts the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog was at one time the 2nd largest community in North Wales, behind only Wrexham. After reaching 12,000 at the peak growth of the slate market, the population fell with the decrease in the demand for its slate. Today the town relies greatly on visitors, who come for destinations that consist of the nearby Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has likewise decreased, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourist market has actually come to be the community's biggest company. The restored Ffestiniog Railway and also the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are prominent traveler destinations, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill hill biking centre. Current destinations consist of the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which also now includes the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.
