__exclusive__ Free State Of | Jones Filming Locations
While your GPS might lead you to Jones County, Mississippi, to find the Free State of Jones , the cinematic magic happened just across the border in Louisiana. From the muddy swamps of Belle Chasse to the transformed streets of Ponchatoula, the film used the Bayou State to give life to one of the Civil War’s most fascinating resistance stories.
Although the narrative is deeply rooted in the topography of Mississippi, the production team established their base of operations in Louisiana. The primary filming locations were situated in the Florida Parishes of Louisiana, a region east of the Mississippi River and north of Lake Pontchartrain.
A significant portion of the film, particularly scenes requiring rural isolation and dense forestation, was shot in and around St. Francisville in West Feliciana Parish. This area is geographically proximate to the actual Jones County, sharing similar ecological characteristics—rolling hills, pine forests, and humid subtropical climates. The region's lack of modern industrial development allowed cinematographer Benoît Delhomme to capture wide shots that required minimal digital interference to suggest the 1860s. free state of jones filming locations
Reconstructing the Confederacy: A Production Analysis of Filming Locations in Free State of Jones
Jones County is largely rural and lacks the hotel capacity, catering services, and crew base required for a major motion picture. New Orleans offers a "Hollywood South" infrastructure, providing easy access to skilled labor, equipment, and support services. Shooting in the Florida Parishes allowed the production to remain close to this hub while accessing the necessary rural landscapes. While your GPS might lead you to Jones
The 2016 historical war film Free State of Jones , directed by Gary Ross and starring Matthew McConaughey, tells the gripping true story of Newton Knight—a Confederate deserter who led a rebellion of poor farmers and escaped slaves in Mississippi during and after the Civil War.
This park served as the primary setting for the Maroon Camp and other remote swamp hideouts where Newton Knight and his band of deserters took refuge. Visitors can explore these same waterways today for a small admission fee at Chicot State Park . The primary filming locations were situated in the
The film's production team chose to shoot on location in various parts of Mississippi and Georgia, carefully selecting sites that would accurately represent the rural landscapes and communities of the Reconstruction era. Here are some of the notable filming locations: