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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PNAHpAGLtQx57DtNiaCSZ+laFgn4y/mnDUghFfxwzvGJGifkiQl59hbST0YntJ6y
 yFWmbQAW//UKTeWz9CBdeg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001019056-04-000040.txt : 20040114
<SEC-HEADER>0001019056-04-000040.hdr.sgml : 20040114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040114171023
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001019056-04-000040
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040112
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTON GREG
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001276378

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31525
		FILM NUMBER:		04525566

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6328 PENNYROYAL WAY
		CITY:			CARMICHAEL
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95608
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9168635958

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-12</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001108236</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN RIVER HOLDINGS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMRB</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001276378</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PATTON GREG</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6328 PENNYROYAL WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARMICHAEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95608</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres-Subsidiary (A.River Bank)</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>633</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option/Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.751</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-09-16</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-09-16</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecur
ityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>17229</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option/Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.8933</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-03-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>450</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option/Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice>
<value>14.8933</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2005-03-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>450</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option/Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.8933</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2006-03-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>450</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectO
wnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option/Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.8933</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2007-03-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>450</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option/Right to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>14.8933</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2008-03-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-19<
/value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>450</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Gregory N. Patton</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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