On April 5, 1853, Janesville held its first election under its newly granted City Charter. The Charter divided the City into four wards, with three aldermen, as then known, to represent each. This election saw approximately 600 residents cast votes to select 12 aldermen to serve on Janesville's first City Council. A. Hyatt Smith was elected as Janesville's first mayor. On April 12, 1853, the new City Council held their first meeting, picking B.F. Pixeley as its first Council President. Notable resolutions passed during the Council's early history included decisions dealing with smallpox quarantines and poverty relief. 

In 1901, the City Council approved the construction of Janesville's first City Hall, having previously conducted business out of offices in the City's firehouse. They selected the corner of North Jackson and Wall Streets, the location of present-day City Hall, to locate the new building.

Following a 1912 referendum, the City of Janesville switched from an aldermanic form of government to a commission form. They comprised this system of a Mayor, City Administrator, and two commissioners. The City would operate under a commission form for six years until returning to aldermanic governance in 1918.

In 1923, the City adopted its council-manager form of government by referendum. The City Council, at that time composed of six men and one woman, voted to select Henry Traxler as Janesville's first City Manager. Still under this form of governance today, Janesville boasts the oldest continuous council-manager form of government in Wisconsin. 

References:

• Cartwright, Carol Lohry; Shaffer, Scott; Waller, Randal, City on the Rock River: chapters in Janesville's history, Janesville, Wisconsin: Janesville Historic Commission, 1998, 268 p.
• History of Janesville, Janesville, Wisconsin: Janesville High School, 1935 p. 87-122 : ill.
• Janesville's early history, ca. 1950s-1960s, ca. 80

View a historical listing of City Councilmembers from 1923-2025.

City Council Portraits, 1988-2025

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