The first Appalachian Trail Community in New Jersey is here. The Greater Blairstown Area is now an official community along the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail.

That puts Blairstown on trail guidebooks, hiking maps and on the trail’s website. Eventually, the designation could have a financial benefit for the town, Warren County’s Public Information Director Art Charlton said.

“We’re very excited about it,” Charlton said. “It really works both ways, connecting hikers to the town and the town to the hikers.”

Hikers will hopefully stop in town for amenities such as laundries, grocery stores and local restaurants and entertainment services, he said.

Blairstown will have an official dedication ceremony for the trail designation in April, 2017.

While Blairstown is the first New Jersey trail community, there are five designated trail communities in nearby Pennsylvania.

The Appalachian Trail Conservatory created the Appalachian Trail Community to assist communities with economic growth through tourism. The communities then would help preserve the trail.

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