Linlithgow, once the county town of Linlithgowshire, is now the 'Jewel in the Crown' of West Lothian. Its medieval palace was once the home of the Stuart monarchs of Scotland and the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Its population has increased over the last forty years from 5,000 to 15,000 - largely due to its popularity as a commuter town on the rail line to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling. Linlithgow grew around its royal residence and developed from a small market town into an important royal burgh, trading with many overseas destinations through its port of Blackness. With an energetic local population and thousands of tourists visiting its historic monuments and shops, Linlithgow remains a thriving community today.