Dunfermline is a large town in Fife, Scotland, located on high ground 3 miles from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. It is a former capital city of Scotland, having been historically a seat of the Kingdom of Scotland's Royal Court and an important ecclesiastical centre. Its abbey is the burial place for many in the country's line of monarchs including Robert I of Scotland and Saint Margaret of Scotland.
Dunfermline lies on the northern spur of the Fife Circle rail line and the intersection of the M90 motorway and A92 road, giving it strong links to the Central Scotland Transport Network. Traditional industries have included textiles, engineering, defence and electronics. In recent years the economy has diversified once more into the service sectors, including tourism. According to an estimate taken in 2008, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-largest settlement in Fife. The wider Dunfermline conurbation which includes Rosyth, Inverkeithing and North Queensferry has an overall population of 78,550.
The ruins of Dunfermline's original abbey infrastructure are an important tourist attraction for the town. They include the remains of the Royal Palace of Dunfermline, birthplace of Charles I of England. The poet Robert Henryson, one of Scotland's major literary figures, was also associated with the abbey.
Since the early 20th century, the most famous"son" of Dunfermline has been the wealthy industrialist, businessman, and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. He was the central figure in promoting its early 20th-century urban renewal, and his financial legacy is still of major importance.
Today, the town serves as a major service centre for the west Fife area. Dunfermline is home to three museums, two theatres, large public parks (Pittencrieff and St. Margaret's), a swimming pool and sports centre, four golf courses, major shopping facilities and a regional leisure park which includes a multiplex cinema, a ten-pin bowling alley and a variety of restaurants. The Carnegie College is based in the town with its main campus at Halbeath. Employment is focused in the service sector, with the largest employer being BSKYB. Other large employers in the town include HBOS (finance), Taylor Wimpey (housebuilder), Dunfermline Building Society (finance) and CR Smith (window manufacturers).
