Moonshine, LA

Moonshine is an unincorporated community and Census-designated place in St. James Parish, Louisiana, United States. The 2010 census counted 194 residents. Moonshine is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, approximately 40 miles west of New Orleans and 35 miles southeast of Baton Rouge. These settlers established small farming communities along the Mississippi River, cultivating crops such as sugarcane and corn. The community reflects the cultural heritage of the River Parishes, known for their French Creole traditions, Catholic churches, and annual festivals celebrating local food and music.

St. James Parish hosts events such as the Bonfires on the Levee during Christmas Eve, a tradition dating back to the 19th century. Moonshine is primarily residential, with limited commercial activity. Moonshine's local map joins its older history to the places and landscapes that still shape the town today, all within the wider Louisiana setting. The local scoop is how Moonshine's history still shows up in the places people visit, work, learn, and meet.