Children of the Camps

"At Gila, there were 7,700 people crowded into space designed for 5,000. They were housed in messhalls, recreation halls, and even latrines. As many as 25 persons lived in a space intended for four."
- Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.

"In desert camps, the evacuees met severe extremes of temperature. In winter it reached 35 degrees below zero, and summer brought temperatures as high as 115 degrees. Rattlesnakes and desert wildlife added danger to discomfort."
- Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.

"When we first arrived at Minidonka, everyone was forced to use outhouses since the sewer system had not been built. For about a year, the residents had to brave the cold and the stench of these accomodations."
- Personal Justice Denied: Report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.

Gila River Camp,Arizona. Credit: Wartime Relocation Authority

More than 120,000 Americans of Japanese Ancestry were incarcerated in the following 10 camps scattered throughout Western states during World War II:

Amache (Granada), CO
Opened: August 24, 1942.
Closed: October 15, 1945.
Peak population: 7,318.

Gila River, AZ
Opened July 20, 1942. Closed November 10, 1945.
Peak Population 13,348.

Heart Mountain, WY
Opened August 12, 1942.Closed November 10, 1945.
Peak population 10,767.

Jerome, AR
Opened October 6, 1942.Closed June 30, 1944.
Peak population 8,497.

Manzanar, CA
Opened March 21, 1942.Closed November 21, 1945.
Peak population 10,046.

Minidoka, ID
Opened August 10, 1942. Closed October 28, 1945.
Peak population 9,397.

Poston (Colorado River), AZ
Opened May 8, 1942. Closed November 28, 1945.
Peak population 17,814.

Rohwer, AR
Opened September 18, 1942. Closed November 30, 1945.
Peak population 8,475.

Topaz (Central Utah), UT
Opened September 11, 1942. Closed October 31, 1945.
Peak population 8,130.

Tule Lake, CA
Opened May 27, 1942. Closed March 20, 1946.
Peak population 18,789.

For Web sites devoted to camps, see also these pages:

Internment Sites

Specific Camp Sites

The Children of the Camps Project
kimina@children-of-the-camps.org
Tel: (916) 452-3008