Lodi’s History Lodi is located in the northern portion of California’s central valley just 90 miles east of San Francisco, and 35 miles south of Sacramento and “next door” to Stockton. Lodi is home to a thriving wine industry, and is known as the Zinfandel “capital of the world”. Lodi’s history goes back to 1859, when the first school was established in what as then called Mokelumne, named after a nearby river. The settlers donated land to Central Pacific Railroad for building a rail station. But the name Mokelumne, which was attached to the train station, the river and the town became confusing, so they eventually settled on Lodi as the town’s name. However, the origin of the name “Lodi” is open to speculation. Some say it was named after a trotting horse that held a four-mile record. Others said it was a place in Italy where Napoleon led a successful campaign against the Austrians. Most likely, though, it was named for a town from which some of the earliest settlers had come, Lodi, Illinois. The town was officially incorporated as Lodi in 1906. Demographics In the 2000 census there were 68,000 people or 14,339 families living in Lodi. Of those households, 35.8% included children under the age of 18, and 11.2% of households had residents 65 years or older. The median age in Lodi in 2000 was 34 years. Climate The climate of Lodi is characterized by warm, dry summers, and cool, wet winters where a dense ground fog often drifts in from San Francisco Bay and blankets the landscape. January which is the coolest month averages a daily high of 54 degrees and a nightly low of 37 degrees. July is the warmest month. The daily highs average 92 degrees and the nightly low average 56 degrees. Activities and Events Songwriter John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival used the name of Lodi in a song the chorus of his song which goes, “Oh, Lord, stuck in Lodi again." However, Fogerty admits that though he had never actually visited the city he thought it had "the coolest sounding name". The song with its chorus has been used as the theme of various events in the city, in particular, the Grape Festival. You’re anything but “stuck” in Lodi. There are many things to do in the area. Besides attending the Wine Festival, which includes rides, food, and wine tasting, the history of Lodi and the Central Valley of California is on display at museums like Hill House and the San Joaquin County Historical Society, as well as a science museum in downtown called World of Wonders. Each summer, the performing arts are displayed by a non-profit, student-run organization called the Changing Faces Theater Company. This group performs at Jessie’s Grove Winery where additional activities are planned to coincide with the performance. Strolling the downtown streets of Lodi allows shoppers to browse through antique shops and dine at the local restaurants. There’s a beach on Lodi Lake where you can relax or fish or swim. Lodi’s zoo and its amusement park are always hits with the young and young at heart. Golfers can play on four public golf courses. And for chocolate lovers, there’s even a chocolate factory! There are plenty of opportunities to unwind and enjoy the nightlife in the bar and grills or relax in one of the lounges. Education Students of Lodi attend the Lodi Unified School District. This district consists of 40 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 7 high schools. In addition to the public schools, there are 10 private schools within LUSD area. Lodi Real Estate Many homeowners are seeking Lodi real estate as an option to the much higher priced properties of the San Francisco Bay area, while still being close enough to the Bay area to enjoy what it has to offer. Lodi real estate offers many homes with country charm and all the customary features as well as modern homes with modern and updated amenities. |