-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QgqxM6pJycNXV9TZntytgWksSw8kL6G5JiDLhsHVhjueZy44hNgrnm8G0zC6gDQH
 7aRy2N3PBiL4UgDXy8hPUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001215317-03-000001.txt : 20030828
<SEC-HEADER>0001215317-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030828
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030828102016
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001215317-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030826
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030828

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAVIS PLATT W III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215317

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11543
		FILM NUMBER:		03869897

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ROUSE CO
		STREET 2:		10275 LITTLE PATUXENT PARKWAY
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109926161

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-26</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000085388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROUSE COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RSE</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215317</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS PLATT W III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>VINSON &amp; ELKINS, L.L.P.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2300 FIRST CITY TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002-6760</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10559</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>133003</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwn
ership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5760</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>79675</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stoc
k</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>42</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>30.84</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>133045</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4<
/transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>23</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>30.84</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>79698</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id
="F5"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>110.34</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>133155.34</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>In Escrow</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F6"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60.19</value></transactionShare
s><transactionPricePerShare><value>31.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>79758.19</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>In Escrow</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F7"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>110.34</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>39.918</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedC
ode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>133045</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>In Escrow</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F8"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60.19</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>39.918</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesO
wnedFollowingTransaction><value>79698</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>In Escrow</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person acquired the shares of Common Stock pursuant to periodic distributions (the &quot;Distributions&quot;) provided for under the Contingent Stock Agreement, dated as of January 1, 1996 (the &quot;Agreement&quot;) by and between The Rouse Company and Holders and the Representatives (as such terms are defined therein).</footnote><footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person serves as the Trustee of a trust that acquired the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution provided for under the Agreement.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Shares of Common Stock acquired are adjustments to prior Distributions provided for under the Agreement.</footnote><footno
te id="F4">The Reporting Person serves as the Trustee of a trust that acquired the shares of Common Stock pursuant to adjustments to prior Distributions provided for under the Agreement.</footnote><footnote id="F5">These shares are deposited into escrow pursuant to the Agreement for the benefit of the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F6">These shares are deposited into escrow pursuant to the Agreement for the benefit of the trust of which the Reporting Person serves as Trustee.</footnote><footnote id="F7">These shares were sold, the cash proceeds to be deposited into escrow pursuant to the Agreement for the benefit of the Reporting Person.</footnote><footnote id="F8"> These shares were sold, the cash proceeds to be deposited into escrow pursuant to the Agreement for the benefit of the trust of which the Reporting Person serves as Trustee.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey C. Palkovitz, attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-28</signatureDate></own
erSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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