In the 19th century , the land that is now Hayward became part of Rancho San Lorenzo , a Spanish land grant to Guillermo Castro , in 1841 . The site of his home was on the former El Camino Viejo , or Castro Street ( now Mission Boulevard ) between C and D Streets , but the structure was severely damaged in the 1868 Hayward earthquake , with the Hayward Fault running directly under its location . Most of the city 's structures were destroyed in the earthquake , the last major earthquake on the fault . In 1930 , that site was chosen for the construction of the City Hall , which served the city until 1969
1868 Hayward earthquake
1868 Hayward earthquake
Hayward, California