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The camp was named after Topaz Mountain, 9 miles northwest of the site.

Daley Brothers (a California construction firm) had a crew of 800 and began construction July 10, 1942. They built 623 buildings in two months.

In Millard County, Utah, near the Topaz Relocation Center, the term "Topaz Carpenter" is still a derogatory term, since anyone who showed up at the site with a hammer would be hired.

The residential area was contained by a one-square-mile perimeter fence and 7 guard towers.
Topaz was the fifth largest "city" in Utah, while Delta's population was only 1500 during World War II.
On April 11, 1943 a soldier fatally shot 63-year old James Hatsuaki Wakasa in the Chest. After a brief work stoppage, compromises on the funeral location (near, but not at the spot of death) and limits placed on the soldiers were reached.

The headquarters of the Buddhist Church of America was transferred to Topaz from San Francisco during World War II.

Hundreds of trees were planted during the first nine months, but nearly all died due to heat, wind alkaline soil, and lack of water.

The first killing frost was recorded the end of September 1942, and the first snowfall was on October 13, 1942. Some of the apartments still had no windows installed at that time.
Of those qualifying for military service, 105 volunteers left Topaz for active duty.