-----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,
 NnkdguKFrxuTCxAdylCGyHnSS1DODhOzYfHtVRIG74tav3gEu4uM5TqV6kd2I9Yw
 BGuAlcTLGpgEitcSM4lFVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001206483-03-000189.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001206483-03-000189.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216174458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001206483-03-000189
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWEST GAS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000092416
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION [4923]
		IRS NUMBER:				880085720
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5241 SPRING MOUNTAIN RD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 98510
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89193-8510
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7028767237

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5241 SPRING MOUNTAIN RD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 98510
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89193

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIEHL GEORGE C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001030284

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07850
		FILM NUMBER:		031058250

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5241 SPRING MOUNTAIN RD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 98510
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89193-8510
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7028767358

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 98510
		STREET 2:		5241 SPRING MOUNTAIN DRIVE
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			78193-8510
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bie78.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-12-16</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000092416</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST GAS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SWX</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001030284</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BIEHL GEORGE C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5241 SPRING MOUNTAIN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAS VEGAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>891500002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>1</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Exec VP/CFO/Corporate Sec</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>7900</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>15.00</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>56634</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
		<nonDerivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Common stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>7900</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.35</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>48734</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeTransaction>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option (right to buy) 1996</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>15.00</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-12-16</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>7900</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>22.35</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>D</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>1997-07-15</value>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2006-07-15</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>7900</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2100</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
	</footnotes>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>By: Kathy M. Bailey, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----