Hey, Answer Girl -

In early Casper, different areas of town were named for presidents, early explorers, etc. The area around Second and McKinley streets was called Capitol Hill. Who picked that name and why?

- Ralph H.

There are two potential reasons for the "Capitol Hill" nickname.

The first, and most obvious, is the idea of that area becoming the capitol, way back in the day, instead of Cheyenne. Casper College Western History Center archivist Kevin Anderson found an article by Edness Kimball Wilkins that says the area was called Capitol Hill in anticipation of the permanent location of the state government being situated there.

But the area could have been named after the Denver home of Robert White.

An undated article by Frances Seely Webb for her "Casper's First Homes" series said the area was named by White, who had previously homesteaded in the Denver area that became Capitol Hill. When he gave up that homestead and settled in Casper, Webb's article says he named his new homestead area "Capitol Hill" after his old home.

Of course, it could have been a little mix of both - that White saw fit to name the area after his old home because it was expected to be the new capitol.

Hey, Answer Girl -

What is the actual speed limit on College Drive near the college? It is posted 20 mph from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 30 mph any other time, but the blinking light has a 20 mph sign on it, and it blinks after 3:30 p.m.

- Kate M.

College Drive's speed limit should soon be more clear. For now, signs are being changed around, and that could be contributing to the confusion.

According to city administrative analyst Peter Meyers, the old signs on College said the speed limit was 20 mph until 3:30. The new flashing signs will say the speed limit is 20 mph any time the lights are flashing, which should be from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The flashing signs may not follow those exact times, and you should definitely be cautious and follow the 20 mph-when-flashing advice of the signs whenever they're on.

"Our street crews have been in the process of switching out these signs since the end of the college school year," Meyers said. "There are already two flashing signs on College Drive, one in front of the Administration Building and one in front of the library. A third will soon be put in near the corner of College and 18th Street. All of these flashing signs are dormant right now, but they will start up again when the fall semester starts up on Aug. 24."

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Answer Girl tackles questions about Casper, the universe and everything else. Submit your questions by e-mail to megan.lee@trib.com, or call Megan Lee at (307) 266-0616. You can also write to Answer Girl, Box 80, Casper, 82602. Visit the AnswerLabs Blog Place at tribtown.trib.com/AnswerLabs_Blog_Place/groups. Read Megan's DogBlog at tribtown.trib.com/MeganLee/blog.