-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GW2q8tLJv4Wc0VeRTk/OdRyKshQsUJPLg09usy+tKJUnTu8OOdV+oqYaJBs1vKoG
 sCeEGBF7jKko3rfbPx6Dow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246087-04-000002.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001246087-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106163843
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246087-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAVIS GARY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246087

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15274
		FILM NUMBER:		04510610

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6501 LEGACY DR
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			J C PENNEY CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001166126
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				260037077
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6501 LEGACY DRIVE
		CITY:			PLANO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75024-3698
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9722431100

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	J C PENNEY HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020128
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>davisform410604_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001166126</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>J C PENNEY CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JCP</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246087</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS GARY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6501 LEGACY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLANO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
         <officerTitle>EVP, Chief HR &amp; Admin. Officer</officerTitle>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2004-01-02</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>27706</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>25.99</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>80118</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>35862.27</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Trustee of 401(k)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2004-01-05</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <deemedExecutionDate>
         <value>2004-01-05</value>
      </deemedExecutionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>68700</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>26.13</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>11418</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Common Stock of 50 cent Par Value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>35862.27</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
            <value>By Trustee of 401(k)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
 </nonDerivativeTable>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Options/Right to Buy/Grant</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2004-02-24</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2013-02-23</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>330250</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Mirror Savings Plan</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>3667.4525</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Price and Expiration Dates vary based on date of options award.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> The shares covered by this Form 4 are being sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 Trading Plan dated September 18, 2003, which plan is intended to comply with Rule 10b5-1; a portion of the shares sold will cover substantial withholding tax, FICA and other obligations associated with the vesting of the restricted stock award.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> Equivalent shares based on units credited under the Company's Mirror Savings Plan I, II, III.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F4"> Equivalent shares based on units of JCPenney stock held by trustee of 401(k) plans, and assigned to my account, as of December 31, 2003, pursuant to plans. Differences in totals reported since last Form 4 or Form 5 represent units acquired by trustee since then in the ordinary course of plans' administration and reflects adjustments made to all equivalent shares in plans, divided among accounts of all participants in plans, all exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <remarks>***Under Continuing POA as filed with the S.E.C.</remarks>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Ralph H. Richardson***</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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