-----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,
 LhBfNsMOzVknODYcy9DuotounPTVu58eybH7CrOvowtstXLYIN9/o/mXtBI/Ditf
 t982WGnCNuT9BIfej8A6ZQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908834-10-000222.txt : 20100817
<SEC-HEADER>0000908834-10-000222.hdr.sgml : 20100817
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100817164150
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908834-10-000222
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100817
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100817
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100817

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hensler William H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001396311

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21765
		FILM NUMBER:		101023544

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		430 CLIFTY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1590
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			IN
		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 DRIVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1590
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			47250
		BUSINESS PHONE:		812-273-4949

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		430 CLIFTY DRIVE
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 1590
		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>2010-08-17</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001396311</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hensler William H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>430 CLIFTY DRIVE</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</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2600</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>461</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 William H. Hensler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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