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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 D2TmWeFuaWFLhZKZab0QIj1n+42hOly0qu1CxlTKowkCFzcWQViffGS3xGmwYuCN
 TCeMrddoko1ZCwZR/XzOcg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239944-03-000014.txt : 20030731
<SEC-HEADER>0001239944-03-000014.hdr.sgml : 20030731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030731124026
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239944-03-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030729
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030731

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000723188
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				161213679
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5790 WIDEWATERS PKWY
		CITY:			DEWITT
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13214
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8007242262

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY
		CITY:			DEWITT
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13214

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIRSCHEY LEE T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233245

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13695
		FILM NUMBER:		03813811

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		300 CHIPPEWA POINT ROAD
		CITY:			HAMMOND
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			13646
</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>2003-07-29</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000723188</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBU</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233245</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIRSCHEY LEE T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>300 CHIPPEWA POINT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>13346</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>2003-07-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9620</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>24.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15962</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNatur
e></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9620</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>42.0089</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6342</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedF
ollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>13040</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trustee, Climax Manufacturing Company Employee Retirement Plan </value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>350</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOw
nership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trustee, Ian Miller Section 2503(c) Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>24.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9620</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>24.75</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2001-01-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>C
ommon Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9620</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The number of shares reported herein is based on a plan statement as of December 31, 2002.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles M. Ertel, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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