<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001090425 <NAME> LAMAR ADVERTISING COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <CASH> 11,561 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 98,173 <ALLOWANCES> 5,059 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 149,628 <PP&E> 1,568,531 <DEPRECIATION> 297,364 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,512,045 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 63,863 <BONDS> 1,835,627 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 91 <OTHER-SE> 1,467,087 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,512,045 <SALES> 324,220 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 324,220 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 106,138 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,329 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 69,291 <INCOME-PRETAX> (69,074) <INCOME-TAX> (19,702) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (49,372) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (49,372) <EPS-BASIC> (.56) <EPS-DILUTED> (.56)