Hayden is a city in Kootenai County, Idaho, United States. Located in the northern portion of the state, it is a suburb of nearby Coeur d'Alene and its population was 15,570 at the 2020 census.
History
The origins of the city of Hayden has its roots in the history of Hayden Lake. The Coeur D’Alene tribe territory centered around Hayden Lake and nearby Lake Coeur d'Alene, gathering plants, including abundant huckleberries, fish and wildlife found there. The first white man to visit what is now Hayden Lake was Father DeSmet while serving as a missionary to the Coeur d’Alene Indians. While visiting, he named it Lake DeNuf and recorded several stories told by the local tribe about the lake and the surrounding area.
In the 1870s, the Lake Hayden area began attracting white settlers due to the surrounding fertile soils and rich timber resources. Legend has it that three settlers, Mat Heyden (a soldier from Fort Sherman), John Hager and John Hickey played a game of Seven-Up poker to decide who would name the lake.
Development centered on this side of the lake, with its close proximity to Coeur d’Alene. At the turn of the century at least three sawmills were located on the lake. One of the mills became part of the Atlas Tie Company, supplying railroad ties across Idaho. During the early 20th century, steamboats plied the waters of Lake Hayden, serving the mills and communities around the lake. The popularity of the resort was encouraged when the Spokane and Inland Empire Railroad extended a trolley line that connected the area with Coeur d’Alene.
As the logging and mining industry grew, and encouraged by irrigation from Hayden Lake, farms and businesses developed around on the west end of the lake to serve the workers. In 1906, DC Corbin took advantage of the high tariff on sugar, bought land north of the Hayden area and hired Japanese workers to farm sugar beets. A collection of businesses slowly developed at the intersection of Honeysuckle Avenue which connected the lake community with Government Way. By the 1950s, Government Way was designated as Highway 95 and the community of businesses servicing travelers and locals was called Hayden Village. Meanwhile, the community located on the shores of Lake Hayden became Hayden Lake. In 1972, Highway 95 was moved slightly West to reduce traffic on the main road through Hayden. Sargent's Restaurant was able to move forward in procuring its first liquor license and the City of Hayden in Kootenai County was established.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water. It lies at the southwestern end of Hayden Lake, and the elevation of the city is above sea level.
Transportation
Hayden is located on U.S. Route 95 at the junction of Route 41. It is also four miles (6 km) north of Interstate 90 and Coeur d'Alene. The Coeur d'Alene Airport is northwest of Hayden.