<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Southwest
Gas Corporation's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,400,992
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     79,482
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         174,307
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        52,062
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,706,843
<COMMON>                                        29,255
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      365,077
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             18,396
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 412,728
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           778,951
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              78,050
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    4,819
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 432,295<F1>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,706,843
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      485,498
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            20,995
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     397,045
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     397,045
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         88,453
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              (2,200)<F2>
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  86,253
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        31,819
<NET-INCOME>                                    33,439
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   33,439
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        11,274
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         153,602
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.21
<FN>
<F1>Includes: trust originated preferred securities of $60,000, current 
liabilities, net of current long-term debt maturities and short-term debt, of
$147,943, and deferred income taxes and other credits of $224,352.
<F2>Includes distributions related to trust originated preferred securities of $2,738.
</FN>