St. Elmo is a city in Fayette County, Illinois, United States.

[4] A bill to fund the National Road was signed in 1806 by President Thomas Jefferson.

A hamlet known as Howard's Point was established on the National Road at the current location.

Later, the name was changed to St. Elmo when a north-south railroad was planned in 1882 to terminate at the settlement.

The town constructed a rail link to the Chicago, Paducah and Memphis Railroad.

[5] Smith Aviation Field was built in 1926 on the west side of town, and it became popular for stunt flying, wing walkers, and parachute jumping.