Papa John’s Pizza, along with Budweiser, benefited handsomely from Peyton Manning after the Super Bowl. “The Sheriff” shook hands with Papa John after the game and mentioned his love for Budweiser multiple times. Though these were supposedly unpaid, they are unsurprising given Manning’s financial ties to both brands.
For Papa John’s in particular, this was a very fortuitous move on Manning’s part — advertising right after the Super Bowl and right before National Pizza Day?
Some might call it perfect timing.
In honor of National Pizza Day, the experts at FindTheHome wanted to discover the cities that love pizza the most. Using the most recent 2014 estimates from the American Community Survey, they found the cities with the highest density of pizza restaurants per 10,000 people.
Note: Cities with populations of 30,000 people or more were considered, except for in Alaska and Vermont, where cities with populations over 5,000 people were considered. This ensured that at least three cities were considered for every state. In the case of ties, the more populous city is ranked higher.
Virginia: Harrisonburg
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Bella Luna Wood Fired Pizza
Try: Proscuitto Arugula
Population: 50,821
North Carolina: Asheville
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.8 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Mellow Mushroom
Try: Mellowterranean Pizza
Population: 85,783
Hawaii: Urban Honolulu
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 1.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: The Lovin Oven
Try: True Hawaiian
Population: 345,130
Wyoming: Cheyenne
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 2.8 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Mr. Jim’s Pizza
Try: Sticky Fingers
Population: 61,470
Nebraska: Grand Island
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Godfather’s Pizza
Try: Humble Pizza
Population: 50,059
Utah: Draper
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Oak Wood Fire Kitchen
Try: LeROY
Population: 44,656
Alaska: Anchorage
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Fat Ptarmigan
Try: Hot Coppa
Population: 298,178
Delaware: Wilmington
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.4 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: DiMeo’s Pizzaiuoli Napulitani
Try: Napoletana
Population: 71,263
Idaho: Boise
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.4 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Flying Pie Pizzaria
Try: #1 Contest Combo
Population: 211,655
New Mexico: Santa Fe
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.5 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Rooftop Pizzeria
Try: #3 House Specialty
Population: 69,245
Louisiana: Metairie
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.5 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: That’s Amore
Try: Supreme Pie
Population: 140,074
North Dakota: Minot
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Uncle Maddio’s Pizza
Try: Southwest Baja
Population: 44,533
Kansas: Overland Park
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Johnny Jo’s Pizzeria
Try: Fresh Mozzarella
Population: 178,945
Alabama: Dothan
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Fire Stone Wood Fired Pizza & Grill
Try: New School Pepperoni
Population: 67,574
South Dakota: Rapid City
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Kōl
Try: Italiano
Population: 70,126
Oklahoma: Edmond
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.8 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Hideaway Pizza
Try: Bada Bing
Population: 85,084
Oregon: Beaverton
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 3.9 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: MOD Pizza
Try: The Xtreme
Population: 92,593
Mississippi: Hattiesburg
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Fox’s Pizza
Try: Steak Rancher Gourmet Pizza
Population: 46,629
Washington: Edmonds
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.2 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Romeo’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
Try: Rudolph’s Special Pizza Lunch
Population: 40,343
Arkansas: North Little Rock
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.3 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: ZaZa Fine Salad and Wood Oven Pizza
Try: Quattro Formaggi
Population: 64,731
Nevada: Paradise
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.4 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Metro Pizza
Try: Chicken Scarpiello Pizza
Population: 223,182
Iowa: Cedar Falls
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.5 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Tony’s La Pizzeria
Try: Italian Tradition
Population: 40,009
Maine: Portland
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.5 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Flatbread Company
Try: Jay’s Heart
Population: 66,317
Minnesota: Eagan
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Red’s Savoy Pizza
Try: Savoy House Special
Population: 65,053
Texas: Flower Mound
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Enzo’s NY Pizzeria
Try: Mulberry Street
Population: 67,630
Georgia: Johns Creek
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Alessio’s Restaurant & Pizzeria
Try: The New Yorker
Population: 80,979
Maryland: Hagerstown
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Vince’s New York Pizza
Try: Sicilian Style Deep Dish
Population: 40,295
Colorado: Boulder
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Pizzeria Locale
Try: Giorno di Neve
Population: 102,002
Wisconsin: Fond du Lac
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.9 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Ala Roma
Try: Stromboli Panzerotti
Population: 43,007
Montana: Great Falls
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.9 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: MacKenzie River Pizza Co.
Try: Good ol’ Boy
Population: 59,017
South Carolina: Charleston
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 4.9 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Monza
Try: Materassi
Population: 125,458
Rhode Island: Warwick
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: The Ripe Tomato
Try: Margarita Pizza
Population: 82,065
Illinois: Downers Grove
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Dan’s Pizza
Try: Green Pepper and Onion
Population: 49,372
Kentucky: Bowling Green
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Home Cafe & Marketplace
Try: Blackberry, Brie and Fried Okra Pizza
Population: 60,660
Tennessee: Cleveland
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.4 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Lupi’s Pizza
Try: Pizza Pie
Population: 42,331
Arizona: Scottsdale
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.4 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Grimaldi’s Pizza
Try: Build your own pizza!
Population: 223,519
Michigan: Portage
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.5 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Franco’s Italian Pizzeria
Try: Chicken Club Pizza
Population: 47,137
California: San Luis Obispo
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 5.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Petra
Try: Tri Tip Pizza
Population: 45,911
Missouri: Jefferson City
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Arris’ Pizza
Try: Bruschetta Pizza
Population: 43,184
New Jersey: Hoboken
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Johnny Pepperoni
Try: Thin Crust Pie
Population: 51,979
Indiana: Greenwood
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 6.3 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Jockamo Upper Crust Pizza
Try: Cheese Louise
Population: 52,799
Connecticut: Norwich
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 6.4 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Tulli’s Family Pizza
Try: Breakfast Pizza
Population: 40,378
New Hampshire: Manchester
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 6.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Vintage Pizza
Try: Greek Pizza
Population: 110,065
New York: Hicksville
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 7.2 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Mama Venezia Pizza
Try: Personal Buffalo Pie
Population: 41,784
West Virginia: Huntington
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 7.3 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: La Famiglia
Try: Bacon and Pepperoncini Pizza
Population: 49,053
Florida: Miami Beach
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 7.6 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Visa-O1
Try: Star Luca
Population: 90,669
Massachusetts: Pittsfield
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 7.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Hot Tomatoes Pizza
Try: Pesto Shrimp Pizza
Population: 44,226
Ohio: Mentor
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 8.1 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Calavittas Pizza Time
Try: PT Supremo Pizza
Population: 47,008
Vermont: South Burlington
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 8.7 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Leonard’s Pizza
Try: Fennel Sausage
Population: 18,378
Pennsylvania: Scranton
Density of Pizza Restaurants: 9.9 per 10,000 people
Notable Restaurant: Pizza by Pappas
Try: Pappas Special
Population: 75,842
