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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-003200.txt : 20040120
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-003200.hdr.sgml : 20040119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040120121444
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-003200
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040120

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NICOR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000072020
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
		IRS NUMBER:				362855175
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1844 FERRY RD
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60563
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6303059500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 3014
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60566-7014

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DALESSANDRO ROCCO J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205607

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07297
		FILM NUMBER:		04531708

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NICOR GAS
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 3014
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60566-7014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6303059500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O NICOR GAS
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 3014
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60566-7014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd29434.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000072020</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NICOR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DALESSANDRO ROCCO J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NICOR INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1844 FERRY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPERVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60563</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-15</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>113.179</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.69</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2878.714</value><footnoteId id="F2"/><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndire
ctOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1397.001</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Common Stock elected in lieu of eligible cash awards with delivery deferred, pursuant to the Nicor Inc. Stock Deferral Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 3.655 shares of common stock acquired in May, August and November 2003 under the Nicor Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes 2,789.089 shares of common stock as to which delivery is deferred, pursuant to the Nicor Inc. Stock Deferral Plan (iIncludes 110.573 shares of common stock acquired pursuant to dividen
d reinvestment in 2003).</footnote><footnote id="F4">Includes shares of common stock acquired pursuant dividend reinvestment and through contributions to the Nicor Stock Fund in 2003.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mary F. Nelson - Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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