<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Southwest
Gas Corporation's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,189,474
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     66,209
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         297,602
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        52,641
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,605,926
<COMMON>                                        28,018
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      342,680
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              9,411
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 380,109
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           624,634
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              45,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  125,727
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 430,456<F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,605,926
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      311,963
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             1,506
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     278,171
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     278,171
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         33,792
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             (2,941)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  30,851
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        26,429
<NET-INCOME>                                     2,916
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    2,916
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,427
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          75,126
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.12
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.12
<FN>
<F1>Includes:  trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current
liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt, of
$181,190 and deferred income taxes and other credits of $189,266.
<F2>Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of
$2,738.
</FN>