Alternate names: Kościerzyna [Pol], Berent [Ger], Kòscérzëna. 54°07' N, 17°59' E, 32 miles WSW of Gdańsk (Danzig), in E Pomerania. 1900 Jewish population: 431 (in 1865). Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego (1880-1902), IV, pp. 455-457: "Kościerzyna". Map. Kościerzyna County (powiat kościerski) is a unit of territorial administration and local government (powiat) in Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland since January 1, 1999. Its administrative seat of eight gminas with the only town being Kościerzyna, 32 mi SW of the regional capital Gdańsk. 2006 population is 66,778 with city at 23,016. [June 2009]
Alternate German name: Berent. Koscierzyna is located in Gdansk region at 54°07'' 17°58', 56 km from Gdansk. The address of the cemetery is ul. 22 Lipabout. Present population is 5,000-25,000 with fewer than 10 Jews.
- Town: Prezydent Miasta (President of the Town), Urzad Miasta (Town Office), 83-400 Koscierzyna ul. 3 Maja 9, tel. 10-03 Centrala.
- Regional: Wojewodzki (Province) Konserwator Zabytkow, 80-881 Gdansk ul. Kotwicz nikow 20, tel. 31-62-67, 31-62-68 Centrala.
- Interested: Regionalny Carodek Studiow i Ochrony Srodowiska Kulturowego, 80-822 Gdansk ul. Sw.Trojcy 5, tel. 31-77-12, 31-75-22 Centrala.
The earliest known Jewish community is 1732. 1921 Jewish population (census) was 18, in 1931-Lacznie z Skarszewami 33. [sic] Effecting the Jewish community was 1) 1309-permanent settlement; 2) 1732 community in the village of Szydlice; 3) 1772-migration to towns; 4) 1865-1914 rabbinate; 5) 1920-emigration; and 6) 1939-extermination. The Orthodox Jewish cemetery was established around 1786 with last known Jewish burial around 1934. In the plan of town development, the cemetery is landmarked. The isolated suburban flat land has no sign or marker. The cemetery is reach turning directly off a public road and crossing buildings of the factory "Sopotplast." Access is open to all with no wall or fence or fate. Before World War II, the cemetery was 1.0 ha. Now, it is.31 ha. No gravestones are visible. The municipality owns property used for industrial or commercial use. Properties adjacent are commercial or industrial. The boundaries, compared to 1939, are smaller because of the commercial-idustrial development. The cemetery is visited rarely. It was vandalized during World War II; no maintenance or structures. Weather erosion and pollution are moderate threats, incompatible development, both existing and proposed are slight threats.
Dr. Hanna Domanska, 81-742 Sopot ul.Wladyslawa IV 34/3, tel. 51-04-22 completed survey on July 21, 1991. Documentation: "karta cmentarza H. Domanska, Kamienne drzewo placzu. Gminy zydowskie wojewodztwa gdanskiego, ich dziefe i kultura Gdansk 1991." The site was not visited; and no interviews were conducted.