About Janesville CDP, California
Janesville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lassen County, California, United States. The population was 1,485 at the 2010 census, up from 1,406 at the 2000 census. It is located along U.S. Route 395 southwest of Susanville.
Janesville was established in 1852 as a stagecoach stop and post office on the Honey Lake Road, which connected the gold fields of northern California with those of Nevada. The town was named for Jane Withers, the daughter of an early settler. A hotel and blacksmith shop were built in 1856, and Janesville became a supply center for nearby ranches and mines.
In 1864, the town was moved to its present location to be closer to the new Central Pacific Railroad line. A sawmill was built in 1867, and Janesville soon became a thriving lumber town. The Janesville Lumber Company operated a large sawmill here until it closed in 1957.
Today, Janesville is a quiet community with a population of less than 2,000 people. It is a popular destination for outdoor recreation, especially in the summertime when temperatures are cooler than in the nearby deserts.