Hayes Center was founded in 1885.<ref name="Hellmann2004">{{cite book|last=Hellmann|first=Paul T.|title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States|url=httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=5aFyDLBIjJ8C&pg=RA7-PA1982|date=1 November 2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=1-135-94858-5|pages=1982}}</ref> It was named from its position near the geographical center of Hayes County.<ref>{{cite book | url=httphttps://books.google.com/books?id=Dlas_EPVGFEC&source=gbs_navlinks_s | title=Nebraska Place-Names | publisher=University of Nebraska Press | author=Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. | year=1960 |isbn=0-8032-5060-6 | pages=73}} A [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=englishunsllc 1925 edition] is available for download at [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/ University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.]</ref>
