Lodi, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lodi (IPA: /ˈlo.daɪ/) (Low-Dye) is a city located in San Joaquin County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 56,999. As of a 2005 estimate, the city had a population of 62,133.

Lodi is best known as a center of wine production (the Zinfandel Capital of the world), although its vintages have traditionally been less prestigious than those of Sonoma and Napa counties. However, in recent years, the Lodi Appellation has become increasingly respected for its Zinfandel wine and other eclectic varietals. Nearby Woodbridge is the home of a famous Robert Mondavi winery, Mondavi Woodbridge.

Lodi is an increasingly popular exurb for commuters priced out of homeownership in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The origin of the city's name is unclear. Historians have not agreed whether Lodi was named after a winning racehorse, a bridge in Italy (site of a great Napoleonic battle), or a town in Illinois.

"Lodi" is the title of a track from Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 album Green River. The refrain says, "Oh, Lord, I'm stuck in Lodi again." Although songwriter John Fogerty wrote the song about being trapped in Lodi, California, about 75 miles from his hometown of El Cerrito, he has admitted in interviews that he had never actually been there, and picked its name for the song's title merely because it sounded like the name of a small town (according to John Fogerty's DVD he was stuck in Lodi). This (at first) raised the ire of some residents; the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, however, later capitalized upon this by producing car bumper stickers which read "This Bumper Got Stuck In Lodi."

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Media
4 Trivia
5 Culture
- 5.1 Museums
- 5.2 Grape Festival
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Geography

Lodi is located at 38°7'44" North, 121°16'51" West (38.128751, -121.280926)^GR1. The city lies in the California Central Valley, on the edge of the San Joaquin River Delta.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 32.0 km² (12.3 mi²). 31.7 km² (12.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.89% water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2004, there are 61,961 people residing in Lodi. More specific data is not yet available from the 2004 census, but in the 2000 census, there were 20,692 households, and 14,339 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,798.0/km² (4,657.9/mi²). There were 21,378 housing units at an average density of 674.4/km² (1,747.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.42% White, 0.60% African American, 0.87% Native American, 5.05% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 13.99% from other races, and 4.95% from two or more races. 27.13% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the 2000 census, there were 20,692 households out of which 35.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who were 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the city, the population was spread out with 28.2% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,570, and the median income for a family was $47,020. Males had a median income of $37,738 versus $27,073 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,719. 16.7% of the population and 12.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 23.3% of those under the age of 18 and 9.6% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

[edit] Media

Lodi News-Sentinel
The Record (Stockton)

[edit] Trivia

The origin of Lodi's name is still in question. Originally named Mokelumne, the town was too often confused with nearby Mokelumne Hill and Mokelumne City. The two most popular (and least nonsensical) theories are that Lodi was named after a racehorse - a possibility, as the town was known for its wild nature in its hey day - or after the bridge in Lodi, Italy made famous by Napoleon. Most historians believe the latter is the most likely story.
The fictional GI Joe character Flash was born in Lodi.
Author Stephen King has mentioned Lodi in four of his books, including The Stand.
A & W Root Beer was first concocted in Lodi by druggist Roy Allen in 1919.
The first bottled wine cooler, known as the California Cooler, was invented in Lodi by Michael Crete and Stewart Bewley. Crete and Bewley later sold the company for $55 million.
Although the Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Lodi" (a song about being trapped in a town called Lodi, from the 1969 album Green River) is named after this particular city, songwriter John Fogerty has admitted in interviews that he had never actually been there, but instead named the song after Lodi, Ohio, where Fogerty had visited in his youth.
In May 2006 inhabitant Curtis Gokey attempted to sue the city for damage to his car caused by a municipal dump truck. It emerged in court that he worked for the city and was driving the dumptruck at the time of the impact with his own car - the case was promptly thrown out. The story featured in a local newspaper, The Drudge Report, and BBC Radio Two's It's Been a Bad Week programme.
The small yet popular Lodi Airport is home to the invention of skysurfing, as well as being the first test location of the Single Human Hover Platform.
Lodi is considered by some to be an authentic piece of Alabama in California's Central Valley.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Museums

Lodi currently has two museums, the Hill House Museum, a restored Queen Anne Victorian built around 1906 for a wealthy Lodi, the museum has all of the house's original furniture. Also, the San Joaquin County Historical Museum is in Lodi (at the Micke Grove Regional Park), and traces the history of the area through many exhibits and interactive dispalys. It is the largest museum complex in the county.

A science museum, called the World of Wonders, is soon to take home in the Downtown Lodi parking structure. It will feature interactive science exhibits, classrooms, and a retail store. It will be modeled after the San Franisco Exploratorium.

[edit] Grape Festival

Lodi is well known for the towns production of grapes and wine. Lodi is referred to as the Grape-Wine capital of California. Every September there is a Grape Festival held which includes rides, food, and wine tasting. Also popular is the Spring Wine Show (held in late March/ealry April, so as not to coincide with Easter every year), which showcases the area's 50-plus award-winning wineries.