Civilian Exclusion Order 52

On May 7, 1942, Civilian Exclusion Order No. 52 was posted in Sacramento. This notice demanded all Japanese in the Sacramento area register for evacuation. The Notice was posted on a Thursday, with registration beginning the next day and the actual evacuation of all Japanese to begin Monday, May 11, 1942. All Japanese were to be gone from Sacramento by May 16th.

According to the Final Report: Japanese Evacuation from the West Coast, 1942, there were six Civilian Exclusion Orders covering the Northern Sacramento Valley from Marysville to Stockton, from Sierra foothills throughout the valley. According to the Sacramento Bee 8,600 people were affected by these Orders. However, according to table 47 9,979 people were relocated.

The 4th Army Command in San Francisco today issued a series of orders for the evacuation of 8,600 Japanese from within the entire city boundaries of Sacramento and Stockton, San Joaquin County, and from other parts of Superior California. The Japanese are to begin reporting to the various civil control stations tomorrow for instructions and the evacuation generally will start Monday and be completed by noon Saturday, May 16th.

The orders apply to all persons of Japanese ancestry, including those born in this country. [Bee 5-7-42 p1]

The order evacuating the 3500 from Sacramento was the largest yet issued, officials said. The Sacramento evacuation district is second in size only to Los Angeles. [Union, 5-8-42, p2]

1. Final Report: Japanese Evacuation from the West Coast, 1942. Letterhead (p. vii): Headquarters Western Defense Command and Fourth Army, Office of the Commanding General. SuDoc. W 2.2:J 27


2. Ibid., Table 47, pages 363-366


3. Sacramento Bee, All Japanese Must Get Out of Sacramento, May 7, 1942, p.1
5. Sacramento Bee, Notice to Evacuate (image), May 7, 1942, p.1


6. Sacramento Union, All Japanese to Quit City by May 16, May 8, 1942, p.1