Vandalia is the county seat of this territory of 725 square miles of extension, home of more than 21800 inhabitants and located right in between Shelby, Effingham, Marion, Bond, Montgomery, Clay, and Clinton Counties. St Elmo and Vandalia are the only two cities on the settlements list of Fayette County, which includes five villages, twenty townships, and fifteen unincorporated communities. The racial merger on this land is exquisite and interesting, because the German, American, English, and Irish influences have blended in harmony with White, African America, Native American, Asian, and other races to create a multicolor chart of traditions, beliefs, and cuisines.

Honorable Gene Schwarm