<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000899045 <NAME> LAMAR ADVERTISING <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <CASH> 7,246 <SECURITIES> 679 <RECEIVABLES> 33,237 <ALLOWANCES> 1,311 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 49,420 <PP&E> 429,615 <DEPRECIATION> 113,477 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 651,336 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 30,758 <BONDS> 534,091 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 3,649 <COMMON> 47 <OTHER-SE> 65,017 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 651,336 <SALES> 200,508 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 201,062 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 63,390 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 2,098 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 38,230 <INCOME-PRETAX> 7,495 <INCOME-TAX> 4,654 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,841 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,476 <EPS-PRIMARY> .05 <EPS-DILUTED> .05