Hayward is a city in Alameda County, northwestern California, on San Francisco Bay. The San Mateo Bridge links the city with the San Francisco Peninsula. The city lies in the Oakland metropolitan area and is a commercial and distribution center. Manufactures include processed food, medical and electronic equipment, and motor vehicles. The city operates the Hayward Air Terminal, the main general aviation reliever airport for San Francisco and Oakland. Popular places of interest include the Japanese Gardens, the McConaghy Home and Carriage House, and the Hayward Area Historical Society Museum. Also in the city are California State University-Hayward and a community college.

The city, named for William Hayward, one of its early businessmen, was founded in 1852 and initially developed as a stagecoach stop. It incorporated in 1876.