Lodi, New Jersey

Lodi () is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 26,207,

Lodi owes its name to the Italian city of Lodi, Lombardy. It was incorporated as a borough on December 22, 1894, from portions of the now-defunct municipalities of Lodi Township (now South Hackensack) and Saddle River Township (now Saddle Brook), at the height of Bergen County's "Boroughitis" phenomenon then sweeping through Bergen County, based on the results of a referendum held on the previous day.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough had a total area of 2.29 square miles (5.93 km2), including 2.27 square miles (5.89 km2) of land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km2) of water (0.74%).

History

The borough of Lodi was incorporated in 1894 from portions of the former Lodi Township and Saddle River Township and was a destination for thousands of immigrants to work at mills along the Saddle River.

Multiple dye and chemical factories moved to Lodi after the 1940s, replacing earlier textile factories. In 1995, A lethal explosion at the Napp Technologies plant killed five and injured two. An explosion on the same site in 1969 killed one person and injured seven. Another explosion at the Mallinckrodt Chemical Company in 1973 killed seven workers.

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Lodi borough, Bergen County, New Jersey – Racial and ethnic composition

!Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)

!Pop 2000

!Pop 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020

!% 2000

!% 2010

!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020

|White alone (NH)

|16,277

|12,592

|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,413

|67.90%

|52.17%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |39.74%

|Black or African American alone (NH)

|769

|1,589

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,020

|3.21%

|6.58%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.71%

|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)

|29

|31

|style='background: #ffffe6; |12

|0.12%

|0.13%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.05%

|Asian alone (NH)

|2,111

|2,036

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,194

|8.81%

|8.44%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |8.37%

|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)

|10

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0

|0.03%

|0.04%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%

|Other race alone (NH)

|64

|99

|style='background: #ffffe6; |203

|0.27%

|0.41%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.77%

|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)

|405

|419

|style='background: #ffffe6; |526

|1.69%

|1.74%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.01%

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|4,309

|7,360

|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,838

|17.98%

|30.49%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |41.36%

|Total

|23,971

|24,136

|style='background: #ffffe6; |26,206

|100.00%

|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Lodi had a population of 26,206. The median age was 38.4 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census counted 24,136 people, 9,471 households, and 6,109 families in the borough. The population density was . There were 10,127 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup was 68.19% (16,459) White, 7.52% (1,816) Black or African American, 0.42% (101) Native American, 8.57% (2,069) Asian, 0.06% (15) Pacific Islander, 11.49% (2,774) from other races, and 3.74% (902) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.49% (7,360) of the population.

Same-sex couples headed 64 households in 2010, an increase from the 44 counted a decade earlier.

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States census

There were 9,528 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. Of all households 30.1% were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.16. The governing body is comprised of five members who are elected at-large on a non-partisan basis as part of the May municipal election to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis. A mayor and deputy mayor are selected by the council from among its members.

The council is an exclusively legislative body, with responsibility for day-to-day operation of the borough assigned to a manager who acts as the municipal chief executive and executes laws and policies, prepares the budget for council consideration and attends and participates at meetings with a voice, but no vote. The manager recommends improvements and implements those approved, as well as oversees contracts and franchises and reports violations. It is the responsibility of the manager to appoint and remove department heads and make all additional appointments not made by the council.

Marc N. Schrieks was appointed to a two-year term as Municipal Manager on September 1, 2021.

In January 2016, the Township Council appointed Albert DiChiara to fill the seat vacated by Bruce Masopust when he took office as Borough Manager; DiChiara will serve until a special vote held as part of the November 2016 general election.

In February 2015, the township council selected Emil Carafa Jr., to fill the vacant council seat of Mayor Marc Schrieks, who left office to take a position in the administration of County Executive James J. Tedesco III, while Bruce Masopust was chosen to succeed Schrieks in his role as mayor.

Schrieks was elected by the council as mayor on July 1, 2008, and served until June 30, 2009, making him the youngest person to ever serve as its Mayor. Karen Viscana was the first woman in Lodi history to serve as mayor when she was sworn into office in 2008.

Federal, state, and county representation

Lodi is located in the 9th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 38th state legislative district.

In redistricting following the 2010 census, the borough was in the 5th congressional district, which was in effect from 2013 to 2022. Prior to the 2010 Census, Lodi had been part of the 9th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.

Politics

As of March 2011, there were a total of 11,177 registered voters in Lodi, of which 4,043 (36.2% vs. 31.7% countywide) were registered as Democrats, 1,324 (11.8% vs. 21.1%) were registered as Republicans and 5,805 (51.9% vs. 47.1%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 5 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens. Among the borough's 2010 Census population, 46.3% (vs. 57.1% in Bergen County) were registered to vote, including 58.9% of those ages 18 and over (vs. 73.7% countywide).

In the 2016 presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton received 5,395 votes (60.6% vs. 54.2% countywide), ahead of Republican Donald Trump with 3,241 votes (36.4% vs. 41.1%) and other candidates with 266 votes (3.0% vs. 4.6%), among the 9,003 ballots cast by the borough's 13,318 registered voters, for a turnout of 67.6% (vs. 72.5% in Bergen County). In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,420 votes (67.2% vs. 54.8% countywide), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 2,508 votes (31.1% vs. 43.5%) and other candidates with 56 votes (0.7% vs. 0.9%), among the 8,070 ballots cast by the borough's 12,305 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.6% (vs. 70.4% in Bergen County). In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 5,174 votes (59.7% vs. 53.9% countywide), ahead of Republican John McCain with 3,358 votes (38.7% vs. 44.5%) and other candidates with 70 votes (0.8% vs. 0.8%), among the 8,667 ballots cast by the borough's 11,983 registered voters, for a turnout of 72.3% (vs. 76.8% in Bergen County). In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 4,696 votes (57.9% vs. 51.7% countywide), ahead of Republican George W. Bush with 3,344 votes (41.2% vs. 47.2%) and other candidates with 52 votes (0.6% vs. 0.7%), among the 8,115 ballots cast by the borough's 11,598 registered voters, for a turnout of 70.0% (vs. 76.9% in the whole county).

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; font-size: 95%;"

|+ Presidential elections results

! Year

!Republican

!Democratic

| style="text-align:center; |2024

| style="text-align:center; |50.8% 4,679

| style="text-align:center; |46.6% 4,294

| style="text-align:center; |2020

| style="text-align:center; |38.9% 4,038

| style="text-align:center; |59.8% 6,215

| style="text-align:center; |2016

| style="text-align:center; |36.4% 3,241

| style="text-align:center; |60.6% 5,395

| style="text-align:center; |2012

| style="text-align:center; |31.1% 2,508

| style="text-align:center; |67.2% 5,420

| style="text-align:center; |2008

| style="text-align:center; |38.7% 3,358

| style="text-align:center; |59.7% 5,174

| style="text-align:center; |2004

| style="text-align:center; |41.2% 3,344

| style="text-align:center; |57.9% 4,696

In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Republican Chris Christie received 52.0% of the vote (2,135 cast), ahead of Democrat Barbara Buono with 46.9% (1,924 votes), and other candidates with 1.1% (46 votes), among the 4,256 ballots cast by the borough's 11,672 registered voters (151 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 36.5%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 2,651 ballots cast (56.2% vs. 48.0% countywide), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 1,834 votes (38.9% vs. 45.8%), Independent Chris Daggett with 173 votes (3.7% vs. 4.7%) and other candidates with 33 votes (0.7% vs. 0.5%), among the 4,720 ballots cast by the borough's 11,546 registered voters, yielding a 40.9% turnout (vs. 50.0% in the county).

Emergency services

The Lodi Police Department operates out of the Borough Hall. The police department has 47 sworn officers. The department is broken into several Divisions including; Patrol Division, Detective Division, Records, Traffic, and Operation/Community Policing. The current Department's Chief of Police is Acting Chief Donald Scorzetti.

The Fire Department is staffed by approximately 81 volunteer firefighters consisting of four different companies with three firehouses throughout the borough.

The Lodi Fire Department responds to about 500+ calls per year, including mutual aid to neighboring municipalities including Garfield, Saddle Brook, Hasbrouck Heights, Rochelle Park, Maywood, Elmwood Park, Wallington and other South Bergen towns when needed.

The Lodi Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Squad was established in 1962. LVARS renders aid with three Type III ambulances; EMS 1, 2, and 3, as well as a Fire Rehab Unit (Rehab 4). LVARS responds to roughly 2,000 requests for aid per year.

Education

The Lodi Public Schools serve students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprised of seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,213 students and 233.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.8:1. Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are

Columbus Elementary School with 244 students in grades K-5,

Hilltop Elementary School with 290 students in grades PreK-5,

Roosevelt Elementary School with 182 students in grades PreK-5,

Washington Elementary School with 338 students in grades PreK-5,

Wilson Elementary School with 347 students in grades PreK-5,

Thomas Jefferson Middle School with 709 students in grades 6-8 and

Lodi High School with 916 students in grades 9-12.

Bergen Arts and Science Charter School serves public school students from Lodi, as well as those from Garfield and Hackensack.

Public school students from the borough, and all of Bergen County, are eligible to attend the secondary education programs offered by the Bergen County Technical Schools, which include the Bergen County Academies in Hackensack, and the Bergen Tech campus in Teterboro or Paramus. The district offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based on a selective application process and tuition covered by the student's home school district.

Immaculate Conception High School was an all-girls college-preparatory high school founded in 1915 by the Felician Sisters that operated under the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark, until it closed at the end of the 2022-23 school year due to a drop inenrollment and the cost of needed facility improvements.

Felician University, an independent Catholic institution, is located in Lodi, and also has a satellite campus in nearby Rutherford that opened in 1997.

Transportation

Roads and highways

thumb|right|[[Interstate 80 in New Jersey|Interstate 80 eastbound in Lodi]]

, the borough had a total of of roadways, of which were maintained by the municipality, by Bergen County and by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Route 17, U.S. Route 46 and Interstate 80 pass through Lodi.

In the past Lodi was served by the Lodi Branch Railroad and its successor, the Hackensack and Lodi Railroad, both associated with the Erie Railroad.

In media and popular culture

Lodi is home to the transmitter and towers for New York radio station WABC.

In the HBO crime drama The Sopranos, the Satin Dolls go-go bar in Lodi was used as the filming location for the fictional Bada Bing bar. Lodi High School, various stores and houses, and Route 17 in the borough were also featured as the series was largely filmed on location in North Jersey.

Notable people

People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Lodi include:

Frederick Behne (1873–1918), fireman first class serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery
Joan Berger (1933–2021), infielder and outfielder who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
Frank Cannova (1911–2005), hotelier, businessman and entrepreneur
Anthony Castellito (disappeared 1961), labor official who served as secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 560
Brian Cina, politician who serves in the Vermont House of Representatives
Richard Cottingham (born 1946), convicted serial killer and rapist nicknamed the Torso Killer and Times Square Torso Ripper
James Guarantano (born 1969), former wide receiver for the NFL's San Diego Chargers and the CFL's Baltimore Stallions
Jarrett Guarantano (born 1997), American football quarterback who played in the NFL for the Arizona Cardinals
Howie Janotta (1924–2010), basketball player who played for the Baltimore Bullets
Al Jochim (1902–1980), gymnast who won two silver medals in gymnastics at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles
Joe Maniaci (1914–1996), football player and coach who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago Bears
Dean Obeidallah (born 1969), comedian
Louis Ricco (1929–2019), caporegime of the Gambino crime family
Rich Skrosky (born 1964), football player and coach
Nathan Sonenshein (1915–2001), rear admiral in the United States Navy
Bobby "Werner" Strete (born 1966 as Robert Ahrendt), bass player for indie rock bands Mod Fun and Crocodile Shop
Spann Watson (1916–2014), Tuskegee Airman

Several members of the punk rock band, Misfits, as well as several associated acts, were Lodi residents, including:

Glenn Danzig (born 1955), singer and songwriter Also singer and songwriter in the bands Samhain and Danzig
Jerry Only (born 1959), bass player and vocalist
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein (born 1964), guitarist
Dr. Chud (Born 1964), former drummer
Eerie Von (born 1964), former bass guitar player for Samhain and Danzig
Steve Zing (born 1964), former drummer for Samhain and The Undead, bassist for Danzig

Chemical plant explosion

In April 1995, the Napp Technologies chemical plant in downtown Lodi suffered an explosion that killed four workers and injured others in the area of the plant.

References

Sources

Municipal Incorporations of the State of New Jersey (according to Counties) prepared by the Division of Local Government, Department of the Treasury (New Jersey); December 1, 1958.
Clayton, W. Woodford; and Nelson, William. History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, New Jersey, with Biographical Sketches of Many of its Pioneers and Prominent Men. Philadelphia: Everts and Peck, 1882.
Harvey, Cornelius Burnham (ed.), Genealogical History of Hudson and Bergen Counties, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Genealogical Publishing Co., 1900.
Van Valen, James M. History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New York: New Jersey Publishing and Engraving Co., 1900.
Westervelt, Frances A. (Frances Augusta), 1858–1942, History of Bergen County, New Jersey, 1630–1923, Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1923.

External links

Lodi official website
Lodi Library website