Terminal Island
By the 1940s, Terminal Island was a self-contained village of over 3,000 Japanese Americans.Their community was abruptly disrupted at the outbreak of World War II when Terminal Islanders became the target of hostility and the first forced to leave their homes. Most of the residents were engaged in fishing or work in the canneries, and patronized 12 restaurants, 4 barbers, 2 pool halls, 2 doctors, 2 dentists, 2 tailors, 2 dressmakers, and over 25 stores. The community had 3 churches, 1 Japanese school, and a Japanese garden at the elementary school. While the former town was razed for military use during the war, the Terminal Island Monument, with 2 bronze sculptured fishermen, steel Torii gates and a bridge with historic photos, remain a testament of the pre-war Japantown.