We offer a wide range of stories on Arizona Oddities catering to an eclectic group of fans from around the state, nation and even the world. From history and recreation to artistic endeavors and those weird things you see along the highway, we’ve got it covered. Here, we’re showcasing our favorite 10 posts from 2014.

CHRISTOPHER CREEK -- In the early 1880s, Isadore Christopher located his ranch near a small creek in Gila County. One day in July 1882, he killed a bear, skinned it and hung the carcass in one of the two cabins he had erected. The next day, he left his ranch (and the bear) and went ...

NUTRIOSO -- This Apache County community, located at the south end of Dry Valley, got its name because the Spanish settlers who first arrived in the area disposed of some native wildlife. One was a beaver ("nutria" in Spanish); the other was a bear ("oso" in Spanish).

Somewhere back in the hills of Pinal County, where mining once flourished and claim jumpers and robbers made a decent living, there's a place called Slinkard Springs. The exact location has been pretty much obscured by time and development, but the story behind its name remains intact.

CORNVILLE -- This pleasant little community in Yavapai County got its current name due to an error committed by the U.S. Post Office Department in Washington, D.C. The original name for the location was Pitchner Place and a post office was established in 1885. As a settlement formed around the site, the residents figured Pitchner ...

PIPE SPRING NATIONAL MONUMENT -- William Hamblin, also known as "Gunlock Bill," was a sharpshooter who arrived in the area with an advance party in 1858. Hamblin's ability with a rifle was a prime source of income for him and his associates, who wagered that he could shoot a hole through a kerchief from 50 ...

BULLHEAD CITY -- The reason behind this city's rather uncommon name is just a vague memory in the minds of old timers. Years ago, it was just a private development along the Colorado River in Mohave County, occupied by a gas station and a few houses. A large stone formation that, when viewed from the ...

PHOENIX -- The Sing High Chop Suey House has been in Phoenix for about 80 years, which makes it an institution. But despite its longevity, the restaurant is a bit of a mistake. It came about this way: In 1928, Fred Lee migrated to Phoenix from China and opened a restaurant.

Test your knowledge of Arizona hotspots and leisure activities with this short quiz, originally published in Marshall Trimble’s Official Arizona Trivia. Don’t scroll down too quickly. The answers are posted shortly below the questions. When you’re finished, leave a comment with your score.

SAN CARLOS RESERVATION -- In the 1920s, the federal government decided Arizona needed another dam. Surveyors picked a site on the Reservation, and when the new barrier was completed, they named it Coolidge Dam, after the incumbent president, who actually showed up for the dedication ceremony.