National Pizza Month

October is National Pizza Month. Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in the United States in New York City in 1905.

October is National Pizza Month. Italian immigrant Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in the United States in New York City in 1905.

Monday, October 2 — A great many Americans would name pizza high up among their favorite foods, month in and month out. But for the 34th time, October is designated as National Pizza Month. No one knows the exact origin of pizza, but ancient Mediterranean cultures enjoyed flatbreads with various toppings and seasonings. An Italian immigrant named Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in the United States in New York City in 1905.

American soldiers who served in Italy returned from World War II with a taste for pizza and helped its climb to nationwide popularity. Now, about 3 billion pizzas are sold annually. There are some 70,000 pizzerias nationwide, among the country’s 542,000 sit-down and limited-service restaurants.

Profile America is in its 21st year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

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