Montegut, Louisiana


Montegut is a census-designated place in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,803 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux Metropolitan Statistical Area. It was the primary filming location for the 2012 film Beasts of the Southern Wild.
This place name may have been related to the Montegut family of New Orleans.

Geography

Montegut is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.5 square miles, of which 4.5 square miles is land and 0.1 square mile is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,803 people, 592 households, and 461 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 403.8 people per square mile. There were 647 housing units at an average density of 144.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the CDP was 86.80% White, 1.05% African American, 8.49% Native American, 1.11% from other races, and 2.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 592 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the CDP, the population was spread out with 31.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $32,107, and the median income for a family was $33,603. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $17,813 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,836. About 16.4% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under age 18 and 13.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

operates public schools. Montegut Elementary School and Montegut Middle School is in the community.

In popular culture

The 2012 film Beasts of the Southern Wild was filmed in Montegut. Director Benh Zeitlin and his crew worked out of an abandoned gas station in town. They built the film's fictional settlement—the "Bathtub"—by hand with found artifacts and rusted-out equipment from the surrounding area. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards.