-----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,
 Ux7uUxGDcmKjTiPv/+hLI/+JJ9pRwJfvMe130F3IqsIEkkPL4lt7yheaY5i6S2zm
 6Gyd4+WyXWPdqD/Cw+/i5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001212111-03-000003.txt : 20030718
<SEC-HEADER>0001212111-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030718
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030718103451
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001212111-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030717
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030718

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROUSE COMPANY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000085388
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATORS OF NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS [6512]
		IRS NUMBER:				520735512
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10275 LITTLE PATUXENT PKWY
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044-3456
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109926000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10275 LITTLE PATUXENT PARKWAY
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMMUNITY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19660913

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHIPKE ROGER W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212111

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11543
		FILM NUMBER:		03792398

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O LEG MASON INC
		STREET 2:		100 LIGHT STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4104544415

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 LIGHT STREET
		CITY:			BALTIMORE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000085388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROUSE COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RSE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212111</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHIPKE ROGER W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>18</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11750</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativ
eSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1994-09-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-03-03</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>300</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction
></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey C. Palkovitz, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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