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Densho Encyclopedia

Fresno (detention facility)

US Gov Name Fresno Assembly Center, California
Facility Type Temporary Assembly Center
Administrative Agency Wartime Civil Control Administration
Location Fresno, California (36.7333 lat, -119.7667 lng)
Date Opened May 6, 1942
Date Closed October 30, 1942
Population Description Held people from Fresno and the surrounding area as well as other parts of the San Joaquin Valley
General Description Located at the Fresno County Fairgrounds in central California.
Peak Population 5,120 (1942-09-04)
Exit Destination Jerome, Gila River
National Park Service Info

The Fresno Assembly Center, built on the site of the Fresno County Fairgrounds just east of downtown Fresno, was populated from May 6 to October 30, a total of 177 days, making it one of the longest running assembly centers and the last to close. Its population came almost entirely from the Central Valley, including the city and county of Fresno as well as Kings County, Tulare County and part of the Florin/Elk Grove community south of Sacramento. Medium sized among assembly centers in population with a peak of 5,120, it was located only about twelve miles from the Pinedale Assembly Center . Nearly its entire population was transferred to the Jerome , Arkansas WRA concentration camp.

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