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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OjIBGtnHn7y70YYsbeKl3ImPzOM53ISAC/EXIawQ0frDyuqKyECG/Fa8If9mirKO
 tuzrTTCOuNvFiTjnN7xZVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225113-04-000008.txt : 20040206
<SEC-HEADER>0001225113-04-000008.hdr.sgml : 20040206
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040206095137
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225113-04-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040206

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:			KASSOLIS DUKE S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215321

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11543
		FILM NUMBER:		04571894

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE ROUSE CO
		STREET 2:		10275 LITTLE PATUXENT PARKWAY
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4109926161
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000085388</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROUSE COMPANY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RSE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KASSOLIS DUKE S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE ROUSE COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10275 LITTLE PATUXENT PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21044-3456</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice-President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>540</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>99164</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person made a gift for which there was no sale price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition, the Reporting Person holds 3362.504 shares of The Rouse Company Common Stock in his 401(k) plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey C. Palkovitz, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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