Russell City, Hayward

Russell City was an unincorporated community in Alameda County, California, United States, about 10 miles south of Oakland in present-day Hayward. The land is at an elevation of 16 feet. Per the City of Hayward's website and other sources, Russell City was named in 1853 after Joel Russell, a New England teacher who came to California during the Gold Rush. Some sources note the area was named after Frederick James Russell, who laid out the town in 1907. It existed from 1853 until 1964, when the last of the residents were forced out to make way for an industrial park, with such parks dominating the area to this day. During the time the residents fought removal under eminent domain statutes, many of the buildings were destroyed by acts of arson. ()