<P> Ventura continued to grow steadily . In 1920 there were 4,156 people . In 1930 the population had increased to 11,603, by 1950 the population reached 16,643, by 1970 the population was 57,964, and in 1980 the population had increased to 73,774 . In the last three decades it has increased to approximately 107,000 . To minimize outward growth onto the agricultural land that surrounds the existing community, the city is pursuing a strategy of "in - fill first" with the 2005 General Plan which means growth will focus inward to certain "Districts, Corridors, and Neighborhood Centers" that will become more intensely populated . </P> <P> Following a late fall Santa Ana winds event a fire was sparked about 15 miles (24 km) north of Ventura in Santa Paula, California around 6: 30 PM December 4, 2017 . Winds had peaked in the overnight hours causing major spreading of the fire over thousands of acres in a short time . Early on December 5 the fire had quickly spread through the western portion of Ventura County causing mass evacuations and power outages . The winds swept through the Ventura area causing the fire to spread through the downtown area nearing California State Route 1 causing major delays on the highways as well the destruction of homes and buildings . The Thomas Fire is part of a series of fires during this prolonged wind event causing at least four major fires in the area . The fire in total has burned over 95,000 acres as of December 7 and is reaching by the near city of Ojai . Mass evacuation orders were prompted and US Route 101 was shutdown . </P> <P> Ventura is located northwest of Los Angeles on the California coast . The western portion of the City stretches north along the Ventura River and is characterized by a narrow valley with steeply sloped areas along both sides . The steep slopes of the Ventura foothills abut the northern portion of the community . Much of the eastern portion is on relatively flat alluvial coastal plain lying along the western edge of the Oxnard Plain . The Santa Clara River forms the city's southerly boundary with the city limits reaching up to the beginning of the Santa Clara River Valley at the historic community of Saticoy . </P> <P> According to the United States Census Bureau, Ventura has a total area of 32.1 square miles (83 km), of which 21.7 square miles (56 km) is land and 10.4 square miles (27 km) (32.53%) is water . </P>

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