Weedpatch Camp
historic place
Weedpatch Camp, also known as the Arvin Federal Government Camp, is a historic place in Kern County, California. It was built in 1936 by the Farm Security Administration to provide housing for migrant workers during the Great Depression. Many of these workers were families who had fled the Dust Bowl in the mid-1930s, traveling to California in search of work. The camp offered improved living conditions compared to the squatter camps common at the time, providing permanent buildings with running water, schools, and libraries. Several historic buildings at Weedpatch Camp were placed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 22, 1996. The camp served as a federal relief center and became a prototype for the larger migrant labor program. It continues to operate today, aiding migrant laborers. This site remains historically significant for its role in supporting displaced agricultural workers during a critical period in American history.