Hayward, formerly known as Haywards, Haywards Station and Haywood, is a city located in the central east area of California. It is the 6th largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area with a population of 155,312 estimated in 2007. It sits between San Leandro and Union City, at the eastern end of the San Mateo Bridge of East Bay in Alameda County. The California yellow pages has much more information on Hayward and other surrounding cities. The city has an extensive history, with inhabitants dating back before European settlers with the Ohlone tribe of American Indians who still claim to have 500 members today. Hayward grew at a constant rate during the late 19th century, with a heavy industry in tourism and agriculture. Tomatoes, cherries, peaches and apricots were the main crops. Hayward then experienced a boom in economy and population during the 1940s and especially the Second World War: several factories were opened to manufacture war goods and materials; many of the workers stayed on after the war, increasing the permanent population and work force. Asian Americans then began moving into the new Hayward housing developments, since this was one area where they could buy housing. To learn more about Hayward and other U.S. cities, check out our business directory.Hayward is well known for being the headquarters for Hunt-Wesson Foods, opened in 1895 by brothers William and Joseph Hunt. It started as a cannery for packing local fruits. The canned food they marketed the most was tomatoes, which became the mainstay of the business. Hunt's tomato ketchup and the Hunt Brothers Cannery had such an impact on the city that it smelled like tomato ketchup for three months every year. The canneries closed in 1981 due to a lack of workable produce fields and orchards.