1899 Map of Haywards

About this map

The East Bay shoreline at the turn of the century is defined by a deep-rooted salt industry and a network of maritime landings. Large industrial footprints such as the Union City Salt Works and Crystal Salt Works occupy the marshlands of the Potrero de los Cerritos, illustrating the area's early economic reliance on the bay's natural resources. Moving inland, the landscape transitions from the coastal Haywards Landing and Roberts Landing to the fertile agricultural stretches of San Antonio and the foothills of Castro Valley. This era shows the expansion of the Southern Pacific R. R. and the Santa Cruz Division, which spurred the growth of transit hubs like Haywards and San Leandro. Notable land grants and historical tracts like the Ex Mission San Jose remain prominently labeled, reflecting the region's Spanish and Mexican heritage before suburban development altered these boundaries.