The first semi-permanent structure on the terrains that Janesville occupies today was a log cabin built by three American pioneerS in the early 19th century. Their aim was to clear the land and build a town, which they did, and they were joined by a group of settlers from New England who set to farming the surrounding countryside. After the Erie Canal was completed, the first settlers of Janesville were able to transport their produce first to the grist mills that had been installed along the canal and then to market. As agricultural innovations advanced, Janesville became the home of several foundries that produced farm machinery which was the start of the town's industrialization. What impulsed Janesville's growth even more was the installation of an automobile manufacturing plant at the beginning of the 20th century. The town entered into a boom era and attracted many new residents, Italians among them, who wanted reliable work. It was the descendants of those Italians who had moved to this Wisconsin city in the 1930s that opened the first pizzerias in Janesville.

Janesville in Wisconsin is known for old-world pizza

Janesville is known for old-world pizza which is basically a traditional Italian pie with either a thick or thin crust. Both thick and thin crust are genuine Italian pizzas that have more than stood the test of time as they've been baked for not just decades, but centuries. Who would ever want to stop cooking something as tasty as these pies are? The answer to that is obvious, no-one. There are only a couple of barely noticeable differences between thick and thin-crust pizzas. The main one being the amount of dough used in the base, with thin crust using around half the amount that's needed for a thick crust. Less dough means a crispier bake, so if you like to hear a crunch when you bite into a pizza, thin crust is the pie for you.

Best delivery pizza in Janesville, Wisconsin

When you want the best delivery pizza in Janesville then you need to order from a Janesville pizzeria that has a lot of pizza-making experience under their chef's hat. That pizzeria in Janesville is Mac's Pizza Shack where they've been knocking out pies for over forty years. Mac's Pizza Shack is located in the Janesville Plaza on Milton Avenue and occupies a well-kept, independent bungalow-like structure that has a homely feel inside. There's nothing homely about the pizzas from Mac's though as they are made by professional pizza makers who have a well-practiced hand. They have good topping combinations at Mac's Pizza Shack too and even one or two that are Italian-Mexican flavor fusions.

Best takeout pizza in Janesville, Wisconsin

If you've been out testing your stamina levels on the Ice Age Arbor Ridge Devil's Staircase trail, you've probably come back totally starved. You'll be pleased to know you're around a five-minute drive from Toppers Pizza on Humes Road which is where you can get the best take-out pizza in Janesville. Toppers Pizza is housed in a large stand-alone building surrounded by a parking lot. It's not a building you can miss easily and the signage is big enough to be visible from a mile away. Inside, the décor leans toward the burger-fast food style, so don't expect too much comfort. The pizzas are definitely comfort food though and these guys bake quick so you won't have long to wait before you're eating your pizza and your energy levels will have been replenished.

Best pizza near Janesville, Wisconsin

Newville

Newville is a town around twelve miles north of Janesville that sits on the side of Rock River where it flows west out of Lake Koshkonong. The shallow, but very scenic lake covers an area of more than ten thousand acres and is a super peaceful place to spend a few hours. You can take a long stroll around part of the shoreline, go fishing, boating or canoeing or kayaking. The Koshkonong Wildlife Area is adjacent to the lake and a great spot for bird watching or backcountry hiking as there are no designated trails. There's a winery, the Fermenting Cellars Winery, nearby where you can sample some local Wisconsin wine before stopping off at Mario's Italian Restaurant on West Fulton Street for a pizza on the way home.

Loves Park

There's a couple of good reasons for making the thirty-mile trip south from Janesville to Loves Park. The first is the Rock Cut State Park and the second is the Anderson Japanese Gardens. Rock Cut State Park is several thousand acres of beautiful countryside containing two lakes, Olsen Lake and Pierce Lake. It's a superb spot for hiking, mountain biking, boating, and wildlife spotting. The Anderson Japanese Gardens are twelve acres of grounds manicured in the Japanese style with streams, ponds, and waterfalls. Both places will give you a true sense of tranquility, but it's recommended to meditate over a pizza at Rosati's Pizza on Riverside Boulevard rather than outdoors as the buzz of insects trying to get a bite of your pie can be distracting.

Monroe

Monroe is a forty-minute drive west of Janesville and a Wisconsin city to head for if you're a cheese addict. Your first port of call to get a good cheese fix is the National Historic Cheesemaking Center which is a museum dedicated to all things cheesy. At the site there's a restored cheese factory, exhibitions on milk and various types of cheese, and of course, a cheese shop. If you overindulge on cheese, take a hike down the Badger State Trail to build up your appetite ready for a cheesy pizza at Vince's Restaurant and Pizzeria on 4th Street.