Hayward is a city just south of Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area. It’s known as the “heart of the bay” for its central and convenient position in Alameda County. Indeed, the heart of this location continues to beat its own rhythm of culture, art and leisure. With the abundance of parkland and walking trails along a central bay shoreline, Hayward offers a beautiful environment in a historically ideal climate.
Don Castro Regional Park stretches over 100 acres with a plethora of choices for outdoor activity. Visitors enjoy the relaxing waters and expansive areas of grass for family gatherings. It has a lake adjacent to the park regularly stocked with trout for fishermen. First timers are surprised by its cozy setting nestled in a natural habitat of various sea creatures. However, for those deeply interested in the environment, the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center is highly recommended. With its hiking trails among an excess of salt marshland, the park is your intro to the “ecology of the San Francisco Bay Estuary.” It offers exhibitions, programs and activities that instill appreciation for the bay’s natural inhabitants.
Hayward’s knack for nature is merely an echo of its native creativity. The rich architecture and captivating array of artwork signifies its value in creative expression. In attempts to “beautify” the city, the Art Mural Program has heavily invested in transforming buildings, sound walls and underpasses into breath taking representations of the region’s history. In addition, both the Cinema Place Gallery and John O’Lague Galleria offer a vast selection of sculptures and imaginative memorabilia. The famous Ukrania Ranch has been preserved in memory of the famous Russian humanitarian, Agapius Honcharenko. Meek Mansion and the Green Shutter Hotel are also two historic landmarks that remain in full operation. The Hayward Japanese Gardens located near downtown are the oldest Japanese Gardens in California. Originally a school agricultural program, this 3.5 acre plot of land comprises Orient tradition mixed with soothing scenery. Lastly, the blues music festival is celebrated annually to honor Hayward’s cultural influence during the post WWII era.
When it comes to shooting the breeze, Hayward has many options to choose from depending on your preference. The city has three popular golf courses: Stonebrae, Skywest and Mission Hills. Stonebrae Country Club has hosted several golf tournaments on its Scottish inspired design stretching over 7,000 yards. Its luxurious dining rendezvous coupled with cute novelty shops synch harmoniously with its panoramic landscape. If swinging a club isn’t your cup of tea, than perhaps swiping a card at the local Southland Mall sounds more attractive. This large vintage style mall has over 95 venues ranging from retail, food and service providers. The downtown area of Hayward also has plenty to offer. Buffalo Bills Brewpub located on B Street has been coined the leading pioneer of the “microbrewery renaissance.” Built with its own restaurant and brewery, customers enjoy beer by the tap and fun by the barrel. Its historical background and family atmosphere makes Bills a perfect choice. The Bistro on the corner of B Street and Main has live music on a constant basis. Ranging from classical to rock genres, there’s never a cover charge to attend. After warming up to the scene, customers are usually inspired to sing the night away on open mic Mondays. Finally, the Cinemark Century Theater located on B Street and Main is a great place to see the latest movies.
In the mid-19th century, William Hayward arrived at what was then called “El Rancho San Lorenzo,” a 27,000 acreage of flatlands and muddy slopes stretching past modern day Castro Valley. With the collaboration of war veteran, Guillermo Castro, Hayward purchased an additional 40 acres of land and started to brainstorm the vision for its development. In an effort to accommodate the demands of the California gold rush, Hayward opened a trade store for miners. This soon transitioned into a post office, a stagecoach stop, a hostel and a dairy farm. Hayward and his wife opened its first resort, The Hayward Hotel, which transformed the town’s image and attracted more residents. In 1860, the area was given the name “Haywood” due to administrative errors and the title remained until 1928. On September 18th of that year, the community’s title was changed to the “City of Hayward.”
Hayward has always been recognized as the crossroads of the Bay Area. In the 1850’s Hayward had immense traffic from ships and stagecoaches due to its easy entry and neutral placement. By 1865, the “San Francisco, Alameda and Hayward Railroad” debuted as its first connection by train. This brought in hundreds of newly arrived immigrants and paved the foundation for its future economy. By 1910, three new railroads were created and with the construction of the Hayward-San Mateo Bridge in 1929; this small town begin to grow exponentially.
In the early 20th century, Hayward became known as the “Heart of the Garden of Eden” due to its lush soil and comfortable weather. Everything grown and raised was cultivated in abundance. Around this time, Hayward was deemed as the “Apricot City” and its shoreline was developed into expansive salt ponds. Throughout the early 1900’s, the Hunt Brothers led the economy with its canned goods. By the mid-20th century, Hunt’s Cannery operated three manufacturing plants in downtown Hayward. The smell of fresh produce saturated the city and was something residents grew accustomed to. In 1944, the Hayward Post-war Planning Committee formed a 12 step strategy calling for road improvements, industrial development, bus lines, hospitals, airports, irrigation systems, parks and institutions of higher education. Members of this committee laid the groundwork for the Hayward we know today. By 1990, Hayward was recognized as one of the top 15 most ethnically-diverse communities in America.
Hayward’s most popular freeways are Interstate 880, State Route 92 and State Route 238. The city has transformed A Street, Mission and Foothill Triangle into an easier design that has reduced the instance of traffic congestion. Recently in 2014, the Route 238 Corridor Improvement Project configured the main streets of downtown into a “loop” granting easy access to surrounding neighborhoods. Its extensive network of highways makes commuting easier than ever before.
Hayward has two BART Stations (Bay Area Rapid Transit): Hayward and South Hayward. The BART is the most commonly used public option for San Francisco commuters. It also has an Amtrak Station and an executive airport. AC Transit is a public bussing system that connects residents to local and Transbay destinations. The S Line links riders to the San Francisco Bay Terminal and the 801 Line runs all night from Downtown Oakland, through Hayward and ending in Fremont BART Station. In order to reach any of these BART or Amtrak stations via bus, it would be best to hop on routes listed below:
Hayward Amtrak 93
Hayward BART 22 · 32 · 37 · 48 · 60 · 83 · 85 · 86 · 93 · 94 · 95 · 99 · 386 · 801 · M
South Hayward BART 22 · 37 · 83 · 85 · 86 · 99 · 801
AC Transit and BART now offer innovative payment methods via “Clipper” card. This allows users to load designated amounts onto the card and scan for station entry.
Hayward Unified School District has over 20 elementary schools, 5 middle schools and 4 high schools. Moreau Catholic High School is the city’s largest private secondary school headed by one of the main Bishops of Oakland. Hayward’s Adult School has been open since 1934 offering apprenticeships and other opportunities for young adults aged 16-21. Hayward’s Charter School, Leadership Public School, was ranked #2 for student achievement and scholarly performance. It also ranks #186 in National standards. According to Niche Public High School Rankings, two Hayward schools, Tennyson High School and Mt. Eden High School are among the top 100 academic performers. The Impact Academy of Arts & Technology Charter School, founded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is ranked #281 in California. Hayward is also known for its higher education in CSU East Bay and Chabot Community College. CSU East Bay has been awarded “the best in the west” for the 10th year in a row. It is recognized as having the nations #6 best online business degree program. CSU East Bay has also been ranked in the top 10 for hospitality management degree programs in the U.S. For public and private educational options, school ratings and reviews visit GreatSchool.org
It’s very important to keep an eye on the market. Housing prices can ebb and flow due to economic, seasonal and local factors. For a true understanding of your property’s value or determining the “right” price to offer for a home, consult with a Realtor. Johanna provides free marketing appraisals in Hayward.
All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage.
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