The city of Saint Elmo is located in the east central part of Fayette County with Interstate 70 and US Route 40 passing just to the south of the city. St. Elmo can be found on Route 40, 19 miles east of Vandalia and 21 miles west of Effingham and on I-70 mile marker #76.    The town primarily serves areas of Wheatland, Avena, and Loudon townships encompassing about 100 square miles of mostly farmland. St. Elmo’s economy relies primarily on agriculture production however, other major industries include Cumberland Trail Growers, Inc., Driftstone Pueblo, Natural Gas Pipeline, Pinnacle Foods, and Richardson Brothers Greenhouses, Inc.    The community can be best described as a small, rural community with a great deal of pride and involvement with the school district.  Community organizations include: PTO, Band Patrons, Sports Boosters, and FFA Alumni, the St. Elmo Business Association & Lions Club.    Services available to St. Elmo include local doctors, Fayette County Hospital, Vandalia; St. Anthony’s Hospital, Effingham and Fayette County Health Department, Vandalia.    Outdoor recreation includes St. Elmo Golf Course, local parks, Lake Nellie, Bayles Lake, Shelbyville Lake and Carlyle Lake.    St. Elmo also offers several church denominations in the area.    Colleges in the area include Eastern Illinois University, Charleston; Lake Land Community College, Mattoon; Kluthe Center of LLCC, Effingham; Sparks College, Shelbyville; Greenville College, Greenville and Kaskaskia College, Greenville.