<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094887</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STRIDE RITE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SRR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001202194</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARUSO FRANK A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>164 CLAFLIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BELMONT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02478</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.25 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>752</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.14</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17334.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were acquired under the Stride Rite Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: /s/ Charles W. Redepenning</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2005-01-03
0
0000094887
STRIDE RITE CORP
SRR
0001202194
CARUSO FRANK A
164 CLAFLIN STREET
BELMONT
MA
02478
0
1
0
0
Chief Financial Officer
Common Stock, $.25 par value
2005-01-03
4
J
0
752
9.14
A
17334.00
D
The shares were acquired under the Stride Rite Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
By: /s/ Charles W. Redepenning
2005-01-03