The Basics:

Hayward is one of the larger East Bay cities. In fact, its land area is almost as large as San Francisco! The population is only around 150,000, though, compared to San Francisco's 800,000+.

Like Oakland, Hayward is located in Alameda County.

• Population: 147,113 (as of the 2010 Census)
• Percent of residents with at least a high school education: 75.1% (according to CityData.com)
• Median age of Hayward residents: 33.5 years

• Major streets and freeways: The Nimitz (880), Highway 92, and Mission Blvd.

General Location:

Hayward is the next city south from San Leandro, which in turn is south of Oakland. Its west side borders the San Francisco Bay, while its east side is bordered by hills (and Pleasanton on the other side). Union City and Fremont lie to the south. Beyond those lies Milpitas, which officially marks the start of the South Bay.

Getting There:

Because both 880 (the Nimitz) and Highway 92 run through Hayward, it's easily accessible from various directions.

From the north or south, simply take 880 toward Hayward. Head south on 880 if you are coming from Berkeley, Oakland, or San Leandro, for example. Head north on 880 if you are coming from Union City, Fremont, Milpitas, or the South Bay.

From San Francisco, you have two options. You can cross the Bay Bridge into Oakland and then head south on 880. Alternatively, head south to San Mateo and then take 92 across the San Mateo Bridge right into Hayward.

From the eastern side of the hills – such as Pleasanton and Livermore – take 580 west.

Get off at Foothill Boulevard and follow it south into the heart of Hayward.

If you prefer public transportation, you can take BART instead of driving. There are two BART stations in the city of Hayward: Hayward and South Hayward. The Union City station is also fairly close, as is the Bay Fair station in San Leandro.

Landmarks:

Perhaps Hayward's largest and best-known landmark is the San Mateo Bridge, which connects San Mateo and Foster City (to the west) to Hayward.

Hayward is also home to several secondary education schools. California State University, East Bay (formerly known as California State University, Hayward and often simply called CSU or Cal State locally) is the best-known. Chabot College, a community college (though not part of the Peralta system of Oakland and Berkeley) is also located in Hayward.

While Hayward may not be as famous as Oakland, Berkeley, or San Francisco, it has several claims to fame. Some surprisingly famous people come from this lesser-known city. For example, both Kristi Yamaguchi and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson both originally hailed from Hayward.

A Brief History:

Like most of the East Bay, Hayward was once inhabited by the Ohlone Indians.

The Hayward Area Historical Society tells a fascinating story of how the city was named. During the Gold Rush era, a man named William Hayward built a store and hotel in the area. The city grew quickly, and its residents wanted to name it after William Hayward, who was still living. However, there was a rule that a city could not be named after a living person. To get around this, the city was named Haywood instead. It wasn't until 1911 – well after William Hayward's death – that the city became known as Hayward.

For a good while, Hayward's economy was largely based on tourism. This is hard to imagine today, when the city (while certainly having merits) is completely overshadowed by San Francisco and Oakland when it comes to tourist destinations. Its main employers today are various schools and Kaiser Permanente rather than anything tourist-related.

Another major historical industry in Hayward was its canneries. Again, this aspect of the city is now defunct; it is no longer a major canning city. Certain names – such as Cannery Park – evoke this aspect of the city's past.