On the fairgrounds have been the county library branch, a fire station, a school for the mentally handicapped, a preschool program, Merced College, the J. Emmett McNamara Memorial Museum, and Leontine Gracey Elementary School.

[5][6][7] Chris Windom won the 2020 National Midget Car Championship at the Merced Fairgrounds Speedway.

Most of those detained were transferred to a permanent camp, Granada War Relocation Center in Colorado.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the forced relocation of Japanese Americans living on the West Coast with Executive Order 9066 over the fear of more attacks.

Notable people held at the Merced Assembly Center included artist Emiko Nakano.

[10][11] After the Assembly Center closed, the fairgrounds were turned over to the 4th Air Service Area Command for supplies and training until 1945; during this time it was known as Camp Merced.