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Densho Encyclopedia

Turlock (detention facility)

This page is an update of the original Densho Encyclopedia article authored by Kayla Canelo. See the shorter legacy version here .

US Gov Name Turlock Assembly Center, California
Facility Type Temporary Assembly Center
Administrative Agency Wartime Civil Control Administration
Location Turlock, California (37.4833 lat, -120.8333 lng)
Date Opened April 30, 1942
Date Closed August 12, 1942
Population Description Held people from East Bay Area, Solano County and Los Angeles, California.
General Description Located in the town of Turlock, California.
Peak Population 3,661 (1942-06-02)
Exit Destination Gila River
National Park Service Info

The Turlock Assembly Center had the fourth smallest peak population among " assembly centers ," at 3,662 and was open for 105 days, from April 30 to August 12, 1942. Built on the site of the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock, its inmate population was one of the most diverse of any "assembly center" and mostly consisted of people who had to travel a substantial distance to get there. The main population groups included contingents from Vacaville and other parts of Solano County, the San Francisco Bay Area (particularly the East Bay), Little Tokyo in Los Angeles, and Walnut Grove. The entire population eventually transferred to the Gila River , Arizona, War Relocation Authority concentration camp. Still the site of the fairgrounds, a small historical marker and two storyboards memorialize the site today.

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Last updated June 11, 2025, 8:02 p.m..