Hayward’s rich history includes the Ohlone and Yrgin Native Americans, Spanish ranchers, and apricot farmers—alongside unique cultural moments like the country’s first gay prom and the nation’s longest-running Battle of the Bands. Today, Hayward has about 150,000 people and is the sixth-largest city in the Bay Area. It’s a busy center for business, manufacturing, and trade. Called the “Heart of the Bay,” Hayward’s great location makes it a top choice for companies in high-tech and advanced industries. (City of Hayward).

History

4000 B.C. – Native American Ohlone people lived off the land in this region

1841 – Spanish land grant to Guillermo Castro becoming part of Rancho San Lorenzo

1852 – 1891 – Name changes: “Hayward’s”, “Haywood”, “Haywards”, then “Hayward”

1868 – The Great San Francisco Earthquake destroyed nearly every building in Hayward

Today, Hayward is the second most diverse city in California. It’s also known for hosting one of the first yearly gay proms in the U.S., the first Japanese garden in the state, and the longest-running Battle of the Bands in the country.

Hayward is known as the “Heart of the Bay” because of its central location surrounding San Francisco’s thriving economy. It is across the bay from the famed SF city with the San Mateo/Hayward Bridge linking directly to the peninsula. (Vulcan Wire).

Hayward Area Historical Society

Fun Fact: Did you know Dyawne Johnson was born HERE in Hayward?

Hayward also became an educational center in the 1960s when two local colleges were established: Chabot College and California State University, Hayward.