WRA War Relocation Centers
There were a total of sixty-nine different facilities across the US where people of Japanese ancestry were held during WWII. Most began their years of incarceration at “assembly centers,” makeshift camps established at fairgrounds, racetracks, and other public facilities in California, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona until permanent camps could be built. These temporary camps were run by the army's Wartime Civil Control Administration (WCCA). Ultimately, ten “War Relocation Centers” were established and run by the War Relocation Authority (WRA). Located in remote areas of the country, these camps often became the largest cities in the region, some swelling to over 10,000 residents. In addition, there were Immigration Detention Centers, Department of Justice Internment Camps, US Army Internment Camps, Citizen Isolation Centers, Federal Prisons, and additional facilities where those of Japanese ancestry were detained.
