Most of the city area lies on reclaimed ground, with an average elevation of under seven meters above sea level.

Per Japanese census data,[5] the population of Hekinan has been increasing steadily over the past 50 years.

Widespread rioting occurred in the area against the new Meiji government and its policy of shinbutsu bunri in 1871.

The area was organized into towns and villages within Hekikai District by the Meiji period establishment of the modern municipalities system in 1889.

The towns of Ohama, Shinkawa and Tanao, and the village of Asahi merged on April 5, 1948, to form the city of Hekinan[2] As it is located on the southern (南) part of Hekikai District (碧海郡), the city was named Hekinan (碧南).

Because the city reclaimed the seaside for industrial purposes in 1960's, Hekinan opened this pool for people who complained about losing their beautiful beach.

In terms of national politics, the city is part of Aichi District 13 of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

[7] Automobile-related components, metal, tile, and food processing are the main industries in the city.

[8][10] In 2010, there were 9,148 people working in this industry, shipping products worth 47,058,959 yen which is more than half of the amount of shipments in the city.