Lodi, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lodi, California
City
Lodi Arch
Flag
Motto(s):  "Livable, Lovable, Lodi"
Location of Lodi in San Joaquin County, California
Lodi, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	San Joaquin
Incorporated	December 6, 1906
Government
• Type	Council-Mayor
Area
• Total	13.86 sq mi (35.90 km2)
• Land	13.64 sq mi (35.32 km2)
• Water	0.22 sq mi (0.58 km2)  1.54%
Elevation	35 ft (15 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	66,348
• Estimate  (2022)	67,258
• Density	4,955.71/sq mi (1,913.41/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	95240–95242
Area code	209, 350
FIPS code	06-42202
GNIS feature IDs	277608, 2410854

Lodi (/ˈloʊdaɪ/ LOH-dye) is a city in San Joaquin County, California. It is located in the central part of California's Central Valley. In 2020, about 66,348 people lived there.

History of Lodi

How Lodi Got Started

In 1859, some local families decided to build a school. They chose a spot near what is now Cherokee Lane. Later, in 1869, the Central Pacific Railroad was planning a new train route.

Some early settlers offered the railroad 160 acres of land. This was to encourage them to build a train station there. The railroad got 12 acres in the middle of the new town. Streets were then planned out. Many people moved from nearby towns like Woodbridge to settle in this new place.

Changing the City's Name

The town was first called Mokelumne. This name came from a nearby river. But it caused confusion with other towns. So, the name had to be changed.

One story says it was named after a famous trotting horse. Another idea is that it was named after Lodi, a city in Italy. Napoleon won an important battle there in 1796. However, it is most likely that some of the first families came from Lodi, Illinois. They simply chose to use their old hometown's name.

Lodi Becomes a City

In 1906, the people of Lodi voted to officially make it a city. The vote passed easily. The city's fire department was started in 1911. In 1919, the city bought the local gas and water company.

Other important buildings were built around this time. These included the Lodi Opera House in 1905. A Carnegie library opened in 1909, and a hospital in 1915.

People of Lodi (Demographics)

The 2020 Census showed that Lodi had 66,348 people. This means there were about 4,494 people per square mile. Most people in Lodi were White (62.1%). About 9.7% were Asian, and 17.2% were from two or more races. A large group, 37.8%, were of Hispanic or Latino background.

There were over 22,000 households in Lodi. About 38% of these had children under 18 living there. Many households (almost 50%) were married couples. About 25% of households were people living alone. The average household had almost three people.

The population included many young people. About 28% were under 18 years old. The median age was 34.3 years. This means half the people were younger than 34.3, and half were older.

Most people in Lodi (98.9%) lived in regular homes. More than half (54.7%) of homes were owned by the people living in them. The rest were rented. About 79% of the people in Lodi had at least a high school diploma.

Lodi's Geography and Climate

Lodi's Location and Land

Lodi is located on flat land. It is about 50 feet above sea level. In the past, this land was used for grazing animals and growing grains.

There is a plan to keep a "greenbelt" area. This would be a natural space between Lodi and Stockton. It helps keep the two cities separate.

The city covers about 13.8 square miles. Most of this area (98.46%) is land, and a small part (1.54%) is water.

Lodi's Weather

Lodi has cool, wet winters. These winters often have thick ground fog. Summers are hot and dry. The temperature can change a lot between day and night in summer.

Lodi has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Because Lodi is close to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, summer nights are usually cool. Fog can sometimes drift in from San Francisco Bay during summer. It can also be breezy, especially at night.

In January, the average high temperature is 55°F (13°C). The average low is 37°F (3°C). In July, the average high is 91°F (33°C). The average low is 57°F (14°C). Lodi has about 65 days a year where the temperature reaches 90°F (32°C) or higher. It has about 30 days where the temperature drops to 32°F (0°C) or lower. The hottest day ever recorded was 111°F (44°C) in 1961. The coldest was 11°F (-12°C) in 1949.

Lodi gets about 18 inches (46 cm) of rain each year. This rain falls on about 59 days. January is usually the wettest month. Snow is very rare in Lodi.

Lodi's Economy and Jobs

Signs point the way to various vineyards in Lodi, California

Early Industries in Lodi

In the early days, Lodi's main businesses included a sawmill, a flour mill, and farms. People also grew grapes and fruit, and raised cattle. The sawmill, built in 1877, used logs that floated down the Mokelumne River.

Modern Businesses and Employers

Over time, Lodi became home to larger companies. These included Supermold, Pinkerton Foundry, and General Mills. Lodi is also famous as the birthplace of A&W Root Beer and A&W Restaurants. The first A&W restaurant opened here in 1919. It was one of the first fast food places to offer franchises.

Here are some of the biggest employers in Lodi:

Arts and Culture in Lodi

A&W Root Beer History

Lodi the birthplace of A&W Root Beer since 1919

Collectables at the A&W restaurant in Lodi, California

Lodi is where A&W Root Beer first started! The very first batch was made in 1919. It was sold from a hot dog cart during a parade. Today, you can find a special marker where Roy W. Allen sold his first root beer. A&W Root Beer is now sold everywhere, and there are many A&W restaurants. Lodi's A&W restaurant has a huge collection of A&W items.

Lodi Farmers Market

Every Thursday evening, from May to September, Lodi hosts a Farmers Market. It takes place on School Street in Downtown Lodi. The market offers fresh fruits and vegetables. You can also find baked goods, crafts, and food from different vendors. There is often live music too!

Grapes and Wine Culture

Vineyard in Lodi, California.

Lodi is very famous for growing grapes and making wine. Many vineyards in Lodi have grapevines that are over 100 years old. These grapes are used in some well-known California wines.

For a long time, Lodi called itself the "Tokay Capital of the World." This was because of a grape called Flame Tokay. Today, there are over 100 different types of grapes grown in the Lodi area. The city is surrounded by grapevines. Even the police cars have grape bunches painted on them! Many street names and businesses are also named after the wine industry.

In 1991, grape growers in Lodi decided to put a small fee on their grapes. This money helped create the Lodi Winegrape Commission. In 1992, they started a program called Lodi Rules. This program helps farmers grow grapes in a way that is good for the environment. In 2015, Wine Enthusiast magazine named Lodi the "Wine Region of the Year."

Festivals and Events

Every September, Lodi holds the Lodi Grape Festival. It has rides, food, and wine tasting for adults. There is also a Wine & Food Festival in the spring. This event shows off the more than 50 wineries in the area. Since 2016, there's also been a Beer Fest with different types of beer, food, and music.

Another wine event is Zinfest. It started in 2005 and is held at Lodi Lake. It focuses on Zinfandel wines. This event usually happens on the third weekend of May. In 2020, Zinfest was renamed RowXRow, but the festival was canceled that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lodi's Museums

Japanese Garden in Micke Grove Regional Park

The Hill House Museum is a restored Victorian house built around 1901. It has exhibits about Lodi's history, including the house's original furniture.

The San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum is just south of Lodi. It is the largest museum complex in the county. It tells the story of the area through many exhibits.

World of Wonders is a science museum downtown. It has hands-on science exhibits, classrooms, and a gift shop. The museum first opened in 2009.

Theater in Lodi

Changing Faces Theater Company is a group run by students. It is supported by the Lodi Arts Commission. Each summer, they put on a play for two weeks. Most of the actors are local children and college students.

Lodi Musical Theater Company also puts on shows. They perform at Hutchins Street Square. Some of their past shows include West Side Story.

From the 1970s to the late 1990s, Lodi also had a group called the "Tokay Players." These were local people who loved acting and putting on plays.

Getting Around Lodi (Transportation)

Lodi Amtrak station

The City of Lodi has its own bus service called Lodi GrapeLine.

The Lodi Transit Station is a stop for Amtrak trains. The San Joaquins train service stops there. This became a regular stop in 2002. The station also serves Greyhound Lines buses and other local bus services. You can also catch an Amtrak Thruway bus from Lodi to places like Sacramento and Stockton.

Media in Lodi

• Lodi Monthly Magazine
• Lodi News-Sentinel (local newspaper)

Emergency Services

The Lodi Police Department provides law enforcement services. The Lodi Fire Department handles fire emergencies. Emergency medical services are provided by American Medical Response. They have been helping Lodi since 1992.

Sister Cities

Lodi has two sister cities:

• Kofu, Japan (since 1961)
• Lodi, Italy

Notable people

• A Skylit Drive, a band
• Gregory Adams, American guitarist
• Jason Bartlett, Major League Baseball player
• Greg Bishop, former National Football League player
• Olympe Bradna, French actress and dancer, lived and died in Lodi
• Sara Carter of the Carter Family retired to Lodi.
• Lisa Breckenridge, former journalist
• Bill Cartwright, former National Basketball Association player
• William Chaney, educator
• David Cooper, Major League Baseball player
• Nathan Diaz, UFC mixed martial artist
• Nick Diaz, UFC mixed martial artist
• Sione Fua, NFL player
• Brandi Hitt, journalist
• Alyson Huber, former Member of the State Assembly
• Patrick Ianni, Major League Soccer player
• Tayt Ianni, former Major League Soccer player
• Bridget Marquardt, model and television personality
• Reagan Maui'a, National Football League player
• Justin Medeiros, professional CrossFit athlete
• Robert Mondavi, famous winery owner
• Bill Munson, former National Football League player
• Barbara Oakley, expert in learning
• Brad Wellman, former infielder for the San Francisco Giants
• Destiny Rogers, R&B singer
• Bob Sternfels, managing director of McKinsey & Company
• Jae Suh Park, actress

See also

In Spanish: Lodi (California) para niños