-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RIyCHOvDV+9rz4pElDP07ZbcKKRt1QsUv/Mw+BnO6U2mO3UsP2tdKANw/Vjdln/X
 +0cOZ0Cv226YlYcAIOlF4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001108109-04-000027.txt : 20041216
<SEC-HEADER>0001108109-04-000027.hdr.sgml : 20041216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041216133527
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001108109-04-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041213
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041216

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001108109
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-GENERAL MEDICAL & SURGICAL HOSPITALS, NEC [8062]
		IRS NUMBER:				133893191
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		155 FRANKLIN RD
		STREET 2:		STE 400
		CITY:			BRENTWOOD
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6153739600

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000229

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTH JULIA B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183380

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15925
		FILM NUMBER:		041207512

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AUITY BRANDS INC
		STREET 2:		1170 PEACHTREE STREET NE STE 2400
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-7649
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4048531400
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001183380d20041216f3f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108109</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CYH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183380</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORTH JULIA B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>155 FRANKLIN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRENTWOOD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Rachel A. Seifert, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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