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, including the close-by village of Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the fourth most heavily populated community in Gwynedd, after Bangor, Caernarfon, and Llandeiniolen. Llan Ffestiniog's population of 864 places the population of Blaenau itself at around 4,000. Blaenau Ffestiniog went to one-time the 2nd biggest community in North Wales, behind only Wrexham. After reaching 12,000 at the peak advancement of the slate industry, the population dropped with the decrease in the demand for its slate. Today the town depends greatly on tourists, who come for attractions that consist of the nearby Ffestiniog Railway and Llechwedd Slate Caverns. As the slate industry declined, the population of Blaenau Ffestiniog has also decreased, to 4,875 in 2011. At the same time the tourist industry has actually ended up being the community's biggest employer. The restored Ffestiniog Railway as well as the Llechwedd Slate Caverns are popular tourist attractions, as is the Antur Stiniog downhill mountain cycling centre. Recent tourist attractions include the Zip World Titan zip-line site, which likewise currently features the Bounce Below slate mine activity centre.
