Draper's Egg Plant and Jacksonville's Industrial Past

Once a giant of Jacksonville’s poultry industry, Draper’s Egg & Poultry Co. fueled the city’s economy for over six decades—employing hundreds, processing tens of thousands of chickens daily, and even hosting future governor Bob Graham. But as urban neighborhoods grew more vocal about environmental concerns and industrial displacement, resistance mounted. Despite modernization plans, the McCoys Creek plant shut down permanently in 1992, laying off hundreds and leaving behind only echoes of its massive legacy—now mostly erased, save for an abandoned site and a fire station on Lewis Street. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4b4ac096d6f21271