Historic California Posts, Camps,
Stations and Airfields
Stockton Assembly Center
(San Joaquin County Fairgrounds
Prisoner of War Branch Camp)
National Park Service History
The Stockton Assembly Center was at the
San Joaquin County Fairgrounds. Occupied for 161 days from May
10 to October 17, it held a total of 4,390 evacuees from San
Joaquin County, with a maximum population at one time of 4,271.
In the racetrack infield there were 125 barracks and another
40 barracks were on the east side of the fairgrounds
No assembly center or fairground buildings
visible in the 1942 aerial photograph remain, but many of the
residences and businesses in the vicinity are still present.
There is a State of California historical marker at the main
pedestrian entrance of the fairgrounds.
Additional Information
When the Assembly Center was closed the
site was turned over to the Army Air Forces' 4th Air Service
Area Command.
.
Prisoner of War Branch Camp
A branch of the main Prisoner of War Camp
located at the Stockton Ordnance Depot. The camp held 979 German
prisoners that were employed at the several military installations
in the Stockton area.
