Gila River Relocation Center Photographs

The Gila River Relocation Center was located on the Gila River Indian Reservation about 50 miles south of Phoenix and 9 miles west of Sacaton. The location was approved over the objections of the Gila River Indian Tribe on March 18, 1942. Originally designed to hold 10,000 internees, plans were expanded to accommodate 14,000 on 16,500 acres leased from the Gila Tribe. Construction began in May of 1942 and Japanese Americans, primarily from the Tulare, Turlock, Stockton, and Fresno assembly centers, began arriving on July 10. The camp's maximum population of 13,348 was reached in November and major construction ended in December.

The Gila River Relocation Center was composed of two camps located about 3.5 miles apart: Canal Camp (originally called Camp No. 1) and Butte Camp (originally called Camp No. 2). Internee barracks had wood frames, double roofs, and fireproof shingles. Although the camp was equipped with evaporative coolers, their use was curtailed due to chronic water shortages. Internees improved their surroundings by planting gardens, building fish ponds, and planting shade trees. They also worked in the agricultural industry in the surrounding community.

Canal Camp was closed on September 28, 1945 and Butte camp followed on November 10. During its operation, the Gila River Relocation Center had been the fourth largest city in Arizona, following Phoenix, Tucson, and the relocation center at Poston.