Blaenau Ffestiniog
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 area of Ffestiniog was 4,875 according to the 2011 demographics, including the nearby village of Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the fourth most populated area in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, and also Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 puts the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog went to one-time the 2nd biggest community in North Wales, behind just 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 community relies greatly on travelers, who come for attractions that include the close-by Ffestiniog Railway as well as Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has likewise declined, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourist sector has become the town's biggest employer. The revived Ffestiniog Railway and the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are prominent tourist attractions, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill mountain biking centre. Current attractions consist of the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which likewise now includes the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.