Manzanar, California
Manzanar (Spanish for "apple orchard") was a town in Inyo County, California, founded by water engineer and land developer George Chaffey. Most notably, Manzanar is known for its role in the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
Manzanar | |
|---|---|
Manzanar Location in California | |
| Coordinates: 36°44′24″N 118°04′50″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Inyo County |
| Elevation | 3,727 ft (1,136 m) |
It was situated on the former narrow-gauge railway line of the Southern Pacific Railroad 9 miles (14 km) north of Lone Pine, at an elevation of 3,727 feet (1,136.0 m).
A post office operated at Manzanar from 1911 to 1914. Manzanar was a shipping point for the surrounding apple orchards before the diversion of water through the Los Angeles Aqueduct from the Owens Valley to Los Angeles.
During World War II, the area was the location of the Manzanar War Relocation Center, where people of Japanese ancestry were held.