The hospital was named after Brigadier General Calvin DeWitt (1840-1908) with the Civil War Medical Corps.

The hospital also had a chapel, rehabilitation pool, gymnasium, fire station, kitchen, movie theater and power plant.

In January 1942 the US Army took over Camp Flint and stationed the 32nd Infantry Division and then the 754th Military Police Battalion to guard the Southern Pacific Railroad tunnels and bridges against potential saboteurs.

To support DeWitt General Hospital, 200 German Prisoners of War were transferred to Camp Flint from Florence, Arizona, in June 1945.

DeWitt State Hospital began checking in patients from local counties in July 1950.

DeWitt State Hospital served the counties of Placer, Modoc, Lassen, Sierra, Yuba, Sutter, and El Dorado.

Part of the hospital is used for professional services, residential, commercial, farm's market and Skyline Church.