Hayward, Urban center in East Bay Area, California, United States.
Hayward is a city in Alameda County, California, spreading over hills and flatlands with residential areas between commercial centers and educational campuses. Streets connect older neighborhoods near downtown with newer developments on the slopes, while green spaces scatter along creeks and in neighborhood parks.
The area began as Rancho San Lorenzo, a Spanish land grant to Don Guillermo Castro in 1841. The settlement grew around the hotel run by William Hayward and became an official city in 1876, developing through agriculture and later industry.
The name comes from William Hayward, an early hotelier whose inn welcomed travelers moving between San José and Oakland. Today residents gather downtown where murals tell local stories and parks like Kennedy Park host community events.
Two BART stations connect the city to the broader Bay Area network, while several freeways provide access to neighboring communities. The city sits between hills and bay, so weather and temperature vary noticeably depending on elevation.
The California State University East Bay campus sits on a hilltop offering views across the entire San Francisco Bay. The university also maintains Japanese and Mediterranean gardens open to the public, providing quiet walking paths between campus buildings.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
