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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JhGie758imKXSI9CwqcHAzDwG7qOVU1dC9+YXj1W3Kn/ItqxHuzdccXy3cnogeiK
 SbNTdbqHVcq6kEx6Fh7wwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-04-000001.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102193201
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GALLINA SAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237247

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31525
		FILM NUMBER:		04501833

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 CAMBRIAN COURT
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95864

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001108236
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				680352144
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1545 RIVER PARK DR
		STREET 2:		STE 107
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95815
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9165656114

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1545 RIVER PARK DR
		STREET 2:		STE 107
		CITY:			SACRAMENTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95815
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108236</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMRB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALLINA SAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>601 CAMBRIAN COURT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SACRAMENTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95864</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30150</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>3.4825</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>120530</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNa
ture></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option/right to buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.4825</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30150</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2000-08-25</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-08-25</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</va
lue></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>SAM J. GALLINA</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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