St. Elmo, Alabama facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Elmo, Alabama
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 St. Elmo, Alabama
Location in Alabama
St. Elmo, Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Alabama |
| County | Mobile |
| Elevation | 135 ft (41 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
36568
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| Area code(s) | 251 |
| GNIS ID | 126090 |
St. Elmo is a small community in Mobile County, Alabama, USA. It is an unincorporated community, which means it does not have its own city government. St. Elmo is located about seven miles north of Bayou La Batre and the Mississippi Sound. It is also about 10 miles east of Grand Bay.
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Geography of St. Elmo
St. Elmo is found at these specific coordinates: 30°30′13″N 88°15′15″W. The land here is about 135 feet (41 meters) above sea level. A major road, U.S. Highway 90, runs through most of the community.
History of St. Elmo
St. Elmo started as a farming community. The L&N Railroad used to serve the town, providing stations for both passengers and goods. The community got its name from a famous book called St. Elmo. This book was written by Augusta Evans Wilson.
Local Legends and Airfield History
There is a local rumor that Jesse James, a famous outlaw, and his gang once hid in St. Elmo. They supposedly used different names to stay hidden after one of their robberies. However, this story has never been proven true.
North of Highway 90, west of town, there was once an airfield. This airfield was used by Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile. It helped train pilots during World War II. Today, the State of Alabama owns this old airfield.
Education in St. Elmo
The Mobile County Public School System manages the schools that serve the St. Elmo area. These schools include St. Elmo Elementary School and Hankins Middle School. Students in this area also attend Theodore High School in Theodore.
St. Elmo High School's Past
St. Elmo High School was one of only two high schools in Mobile County specifically for African American students. This was before public schools in the area began integrating. Before integration, African American elementary students went to the Grand Bay Elementary School for Colored. This school was located west of town, near Grand Bay.
St. Elmo High School closed in 1970. Its students then joined the schools in Grand Bay. However, the St. Elmo school building reopened in 1987. It became an integrated public elementary school. Today, it is still open and known as St. Elmo Elementary School, part of the Mobile County Public School System.
