-----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,
 EmQe12rjIUAOL36rctIgNsBlJUUGo8seiWNz7tKSnx/N06myPk4VBhmx6ytqPMfJ
 Sp6F1p+vvIUZ+/Ij8UeqzA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908834-09-000033.txt : 20090130
<SEC-HEADER>0000908834-09-000033.hdr.sgml : 20090130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090130085241
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908834-09-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090130

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MUESSEL JOHN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208621

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21765
		FILM NUMBER:		09556083

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
		STREET 2:		430 CLIFTY DRIVE, PO BOX 1590
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			47250

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015593
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED [6035]
		IRS NUMBER:				351984567
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		430 CLIFTY DR
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47250
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8122734949

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		430 CLIFTY DR
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47250
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001015593</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RIVER VALLEY BANCORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RIVR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MUESSEL JOHN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>411 BROADWAY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MADISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>47250</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President Trust Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2743</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ESOP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Report is being filed voluntarily for the purpose of reflecting ESOP allocations since the date of the Reporting Person's last ownership report reporting ESOP holdings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mary Ellen McClelland Attorney-in-Fact for John Muessel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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