Before World War II, Jews made up 20% of the population of Częstochowa, Poland. The earliest records of Jews in the city date back to around 1700, and by the late 18th century the Jewish population had grown enough to establish an independent Jewish community and cemetery. In the late 19th century, many Jews operated factories and workshops in industries like textiles, which employed hundreds of local Jews. However, in the early 20th century there was also growing antisemitism, including riots targeting Jews in 1919 and a violent pogrom in 1937 that destroyed Jewish homes and businesses.