This Tiny U.S. Town that Proudly Calls Itself the ‘Poultry Capital of the World’

People living outside of Georgia, or who have no connection to the poultry industry, may never have heard of J. D. Jewell, Inc. The company went bankrupt in the 1970s. But before it did, it was a powerhouse that completely revolutionized the poultry industry and forever changed the town of Gainesville, Georgia. Today, Gainesville, with a growing population of around 43,000, is known as the Poultry Capital of the World. How the town came to claim that designation rests largely with the efforts of one industrious man, Jesse Jewell, born in 1902.  

Where Is Gainesville, Georgia?

The city of Gainesville sits on the east side of Lake Lanier in Hall County in northeastern Georgia. It lies close to the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its early growth was owed largely to its proximity to the railroad running northeast from the city toward Charlotte, North Carolina.

How Big Is Poultry Processing in Gainesville?

As of 2022, poultry processing represents four of the top ten industries in Gainesville, Georgia. At least 14 different processing plants operate inside Gainesville, the Poultry Capital of the World. That’s not to mention several more within less than an hour’s drive. These plants process whole chickens, chicken parts, ground chicken, and ground turkey. They all owe at least some credit for their success to the innovations brought forth by one man nearly 100 years ago.

Who Was Jesse Jewell?

Jesse Dickson Jewell was the son of a feed and fertilizer store owner and an art teacher. A bright student, Jewell attended college in Georgia and Alabama. He pursued a degree in engineering before returning to work in the family business. By 1930, when Jewell was just 28 years old, he was left in charge of the store. The Great Depression would threaten his success, but his ingenuity would prove unstoppable.

How Did Jewell Revolutionize the Poultry Industry?

Jesse Jewell turned the poultry industry around and simultaneously helped his community get through the Great Depression. He sold farmers chicks on credit with the purchase of feed, then bought them back, once they had reached broiler size. He paid prices that both covered his costs and gave the farmers a profit. This kept many area farmers afloat during hard times. But Jewell saw even bigger potential in taking control of the whole process, from bottom to top.

Jewell built his own hatchery, so he could save money on the cost of chicks. And he built his own processing plant so he wouldn’t have to pay others to butcher and process his birds. This vertical integration of the billion-dollar-a-year industry, though common now, was unheard of at that time.

How Gainesville Embraces Poultry Today

Gainesville embraces its poultry heritage and proudly proclaims its title as Poultry Capital of the World. Each year the city holds the Spring Chicken Festival, featuring a massive chicken cook-off, live entertainment, a chicken-themed art market, and much more. Visitors can see the statue that stands in the middle of town with a rooster proudly perched atop a tall obelisk.

What NOT to Do in Gainesville

Beware, if you visit Gainesville, Georgia, there is one thing you must not do. Don’t eat fried chicken with a fork. As per a city ordinance passed in 1961, eating fried chicken with a fork is illegal in the city of Gainesville. You must eat it with your hands. No rules prohibit licking your fingers, though!