Ożarów

Ożarów [ɔˈʐaruf] ( listen) is a town in Poland, in Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, in Powiat of Opatów (Opatów county). It has 4,906 inhabitants (data from December 31, 2004) and its largest employer is a large cement factory nearby. The cement factory was privatized in 1995 and a controlling stake in the company was purchased by Irish company CRH plc from HCP (Holding Cement Polski). Recently, one of the agents involved in brokering the transaction between CRH and HCP claimed to have paid a USD 1m bribe to make the acquisition. The truth of that inquiry is still pending.

There is also a semi-famous Jewish cemetery in town that dates back almost 400 years, and is one of the few remaining Jewish cemeteries in Poland. The cemetery wall was almost totally destroyed during World War II by general warfare as well as German soldiers using the stones for fortifications nearby. In May 2001, Norman Weinberg organized the Ożarów Cemetery Restoration Project, along with his wife and friends, aimed at renovating and rebuilding the cemetery which was completed October 15, 2001.

Of other note, there is one Catholic church in town.

It was founded in 1569.