If you don't know where metro east is, you're too far away! But FYI, we are the metropolitan area in Illinois across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. We consist of East St. Louis, Collinsville, Caseyville, Fairview Heights, Belleville, O'Fallon, Swansea, and a few smaller towns farther north, south, and east. I would say anything within 40 miles east of the river and 20 miles north or south of I-64 qualifies.
