Named after William Hayward, who purchased the land in 1852 during the time of the Gold Rush, Hayward is nicknamed "The Heart of the Bay" due to its central location in Alameda County, California. Across the Bay from San Francisco with Oakland to the north and San Jose to the south, Hayward has access to the three biggest cities in the Bay Area.
One of Hayward's first major businesses was Hunt-Wesson Foods, a major canning company which was established in 1895 by brothers Joseph and William Hunt. Due to its temperate climate, fertile soil, and prime farmland, the city was a great location for such an industry until the Bay Area experienced massive urbanization in the latter half of the 20th century. Today, Hayward is one of the top 15 most diverse cities in the country.
According to the 2000 census, the population of Hayward was 140,030. The median household income was $51,177.