Restaurant news, Jerry Jones, and Barrett Baber. These were the Flyer’s most popular topics this year.

We always enjoy digging through our analytics reports each year to see which types of stories drew the biggest audiences, and how much the Flyer grew.

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We posted over 1,001 stories in 2015, which was down a bit from the 1,128 we published last year. However, traffic increased to 2.6 million pageviews, a 5.45 percent increase over 2014. We also reached over 21,000 likes on Facebook, over 17,000 Twitter followers, and more than 33,000 Instagram followers.

Thanks for reading, and for supporting the awesome local businesses that keep us flying.

Here are our top 25 most popular stories of the year. Also, check out our annual recap of the year in photos.

1. JJ’s Grill to replace longtime Dickson Street restaurant

File photo

Our most read story of the year didn’t actually come until December. That’s when we learned that Jose’s Mexican Restaurant would be closing up shop for good, and that owners Joe Fennel and Doug Allen planned to reopen as JJ’s Grill as part of a new partnership with JJ’s founder Jody Thornton.

Read it: JJ’s Grill to replace longtime Dickson Street restaurant

2. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones purchases, donates land near planned regional park in Fayetteville

Map: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

Our second most read post of the year came way back in January, when we discovered that Dallas Cowboy’s owner Jerry Jones had purchased 10 parcels of land totaling about 256 acres off Cato Springs Road near the site of the planned park.

We later learned that the Texas billionaire, former Razorback Football player, and member of the 1964 national championship team purchased the land to donate to a company affiliated with the Razorback Foundation.

Read it: Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones purchases, donates land near planned regional park in Fayetteville

3. Where to watch fireworks in Northwest Arkansas in 2015

Photo: Steven Young, CC 2.0

Our annual guide on where to watch fireworks around the Fourth of July is always a top story. This year’s post, which included 17 area fireworks displays, landed in the top 3.

Read it: Where to watch fireworks in Northwest Arkansas in 2015

4. Whataburger to break ground in Fayetteville this month

Courtesy photo

2015 was also the year we learned about the extent to which people from Texas will freak out about Whataburger.

Our March story about the restaurant chain breaking ground on their Fayetteville location landed at No. 4 on our most popular stories list, and once the restaurant opened in the summer, Fayetteville police had to staff the parking lot for weeks to help handle the traffic.

Read it: Whataburger to break ground in Fayetteville this month

5. Restaurant News: Bocca, The Grillehouse, Locals 479, and more

Photo: Todd Gill, Flyer staff

Our restaurant news posts have always been popular, and one we wrote in September mentioning the new Bocca Italian Restaurant, Fayetteville Grillhouse, Locals 479, and some other openings and closings was the most popular of those of the year.

Read it: Restaurant News: Bocca, The Grillehouse, Locals 479, and more

6. Marijuana Dispensary Sign Posted On College Avenue

A sign advertising a Marijuana dispensary appeared on an abandoned building in Fayetteville April 1.

Photo: Dustin Bartholomew

Some prankster posted a sign on an abandoned gas station on College Avenue on April Fools Day that resulted in our sixth most read post of 2015.

A sign advertising Arkansas’ first marijuana dispensary appeared on an abandoned EZ Mart location on April 1. Of course, it was just a joke, as marijuana is still illegal in Arkansas. Still, it was a pretty good joke.

Read it: Marijuana Dispensary Sign Posted On College Avenue

7. Restaurant and bar news: Simon’s Diner, Nomads Music Lounge, East Side Cantina, and more

Staff photo

Our second most popular restaurant round-up of the year, and our seventh most read post overall came back in January. The post delivered news on Simon’s Diner, Nomad’s Music Lounge, East Side Cantina, The Handle Bar, Mayflower Restaurant, and others.

Read it: Restaurant and bar news: Simon’s Diner, Nomads Music Lounge, East Side Cantina, and more

8. Plane lands on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fayetteville

Photos: Todd Gill,

Probably the craziest story of the year came the day that a small plane parachuted onto Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard across from Fayetteville High School during an emergency landing on November morning. It turned out, the Cirrus SR 22 aircraft was being piloted by former Walmart CEO Bill Simon. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured in the accident.

Read it: Plane lands on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fayetteville

9. Barrett Baber plans to take Arkansas with him on trip through Season 9 of “The Voice”

Barrett Baber / Courtesy photo

A profile on local musician Barrett Baber, who was in the midst of his run through the national singing competition The Voice lands at the ninth most read post of the year. Baber ultimately finished third in the competition, but he represented Arkansas all the way to the finals.

Read it: Barrett Baber plans to take Arkansas with him on trip through Season 9 of “The Voice”

10. Local singer/songwriter Barrett Baber to appear on NBC’s ‘The Voice’

Screen capture

A piece announcing Baber’s appearance on the Voice lands at the 10th most read post on the site this year. A trailer for the show featured Baber blowing away the team of judges before the competition began, which turned out to be a good sign of his upcoming success on the show.

Read it: Local singer/songwriter Barrett Baber to appear on NBC’s ‘The Voice’

11. Restaurant News: Cardamom & Curry, Con Quesos, Chunky Dunk and more

12. Restaurant News: San Lio, Tacos 4 Life, Native Nectar

13. Ozark Escape live escape room experience opens in Fayetteville

14. UA planning two-day music festival April 17-18

15. Five favorite floating spots near Fayetteville

16. Fayetteville Animal Shelter to offer free pet adoptions on Friday, July 10

17. Photographer unearths 40-year-old photos of Fayetteville Farmers’ Market

18. ‘Slide the City’ bringing giant slip-and-slide event to Fayetteville

19. Arkansas schedules country music concerts on game day weekends

20. Plan shows restaurants and retail coming to Whole Foods shopping center

21. Fayetteville voters approve civil rights ordinance