CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)		Common Stock [Member] Common Shares Class A Non-Voting [Member]		Common Stock [Member] Common Shares Class B Voting [Member]		Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 7,948,000		$ 882,000		$ 90,841,000	$ 22,165,000	$ 121,836,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		7,948,000	[1],[2],[3]	882,000	[4]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income							9,506,000	9,506,000
Cash dividends declared
Common stock							(7,523,000)	(7,523,000)
Issuance of common stock
Dividend reinvestment plan		$ 21,000				438,000		$ 459,000
Dividends reinvestment plan (in shares)		21,000	[1],[2],[3]					21,000
Employee stock options and awards		$ 44,000				920,000		$ 964,000
Employee stock options and awards (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	44,000
Employee Retirement Plan	[1]	$ 17,000				346,000		363,000
Employee Retirement Plan (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	17,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 8,030,000		$ 882,000		92,545,000	24,148,000	125,605,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014		8,030,000	[1],[2],[3]	882,000	[4]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income							11,305,000	11,305,000
Cash dividends declared
Common stock							(7,811,000)	(7,811,000)
Issuance of common stock
Dividend reinvestment plan		$ 18,000				366,000		$ 384,000
Dividends reinvestment plan (in shares)		18,000	[1],[2],[3]					17,500
Employee stock options and awards		$ 111,000				2,419,000		$ 2,530,000
Employee stock options and awards (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	111,000
Employee Retirement Plan	[1]	$ 17,000				301,000		318,000
Employee Retirement Plan (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	17,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 8,176,000		$ 882,000		95,631,000	27,642,000	132,331,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015		8,176,000	[1],[2],[3]	882,000	[4]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income							12,954,000	12,954,000
Cash dividends declared
Common stock							(8,180,000)	(8,180,000)
Issuance of common stock
Dividend reinvestment plan		$ 13,000				387,000		$ 400,000
Dividends reinvestment plan (in shares)		13,000	[1],[2],[3]					13,600
Employee stock options and awards		$ 38,000				939,000		$ 977,000
Employee stock options and awards (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	38,000
Employee Retirement Plan	[1]	$ 18,000				523,000		541,000
Employee Retirement Plan (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	18,000
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 8,245,000		$ 882,000		$ 97,480,000	$ 32,416,000	$ 139,023,000
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		8,245,000	[1],[2],[3]	882,000	[4]

[1] Artesian Resources Corporation registered 500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock available for purchase through the Artesian Retirement Plan and the Artesian Supplemental Retirement Plan.

[2] At December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, Class A Common Stock had 15,000,000 shares authorized. For the same periods, shares issued, inclusive of treasury shares, were 8,205,190, 8,059,654 and 7,977,546, respectively.

[3] Under the Equity Compensation Plan, effective December 9, 2015 Artesian Resources Corporation authorized up to 331,500 shares of Class A Common Stock for issuance of grants in forms of stock options, stock units, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances as discussed in the Plan.

[4] At December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013, Class B Common Stock had 1,040,000 shares authorized and 882,000 shares issued.