-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Pe3pyCYlO+eObmA2ol3qVc4vINlgAo6T4HK/K9GmPGuDUTeu1DDoIbos02+K5WTe
 A8KtlfQy5EWFTU7ZNJeTEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-05-015055.txt : 20050801
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-05-015055.hdr.sgml : 20050801
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050801125837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-05-015055
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050801
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050801
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050801

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DRAPER E LINN JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186296

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10499
		FILM NUMBER:		05987339

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		512-391-2986

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AUSTIN STATE AFFAIRS OFFICE
		STREET 2:		400 W 15TH ST SUITE 1500
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78701-1677

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHWESTERN CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000073088
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931]
		IRS NUMBER:				460172280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 S DAKOTA AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1100
		CITY:			SIOUX
		STATE:			SD
		ZIP:			57104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6059782908

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 S DAKOTA AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1100
		CITY:			SIOUX
		STATE:			SD
		ZIP:			57104

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHWESTERN PUBLIC SERVICE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000073088</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHWESTERN CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186296</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DRAPER E LINN JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>125 S. DAKOTA AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SIOUX FALLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>57104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>DEFERRED STOCK UNIT</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>791</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>791</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2008</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">DEFERRED SHARE UNITS REPRESENT THE CASH COMPENSATION THAT DIRECTORS EARNED AND DEFERRED DURING THE PREVIOUS MONTH.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1-FOR-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">COMPENSATION DEFERRED UNDER THE NORTHWESTERN CORPORATION 2005 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR A NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR, INCLUDING ANY COMPENSATION INVESTED IN DEFERRED STOCK UNITS, IS DISTRIBUTED TO DIRECTOR AFTER BOARD SERVICE HAS ENDED, PURSUANT TO A DISTRIBUTION ELECTION, WITH ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS NOT TO EXCEED 10 YEARS.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">SHARES HAVE BEEN ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST NUMBER.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>E. Linn Draper, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----