Here are five interesting facts about December 24 in Arizona history:

1. In 1862, Union soldiers under the command of General James Carleton established a garrison at Fort Goodwin in eastern Arizona, on December 24. The post served as a base for operations against the Apache tribes for seven years before being abandoned.

2. December 24, 1912, marked the first Christmas Eve in Arizona since statehood. The state had been admitted to the Union on February 14 of that year.

3. In 1929, the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation in eastern Arizona was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake on December 24. The quake caused considerable damage to buildings, and some people were injured, but no fatalities were reported.

4. On December 24, 1945, the city of Phoenix saw one of its worst Christmas Eve traffic accidents when two cars collided head-on near 44th Street and McDowell Road. Four people were killed instantly, and three others died later from their injuries.

5. December 24, 1978, is known as Black Sunday to many Arizonans. On that day, a snowstorm hit the state, causing widespread power outages and stranding motorists on highways. Nearly two feet of snow fell in parts of northern Arizona, and temperatures dropped to below freezing in some areas.