CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		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, 2016		$ 8,245		$ 882		$ 97,480	$ 32,416	$ 139,023
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016		8,245	[1],[2],[3]	882	[4]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income							13,983	13,983
Cash dividends declared
Common stock							(8,496)	(8,496)
Issuance of common stock
Dividend reinvestment plan		$ 11				378		$ 389
Dividend reinvestment plan (in shares)		11	[1],[2],[3]					11
Employee stock options and awards	[3]	$ 67				1,313		$ 1,380
Employee stock options and awards (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	67
Employee Retirement Plan	[1]	$ 10				355		365
Employee Retirement Plan (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	10
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		$ 8,333		$ 882		99,526	37,903	146,644
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017		8,333	[1],[2],[3]	882	[4]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income							14,278	14,278
Cash dividends declared
Common stock							(8,819)	(8,819)
Issuance of common stock
Dividend reinvestment plan		$ 10				356		$ 366
Dividend reinvestment plan (in shares)		10	[1],[2],[3]					10
Employee stock options and awards	[3]	$ 13				306		$ 319
Employee stock options and awards (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	13
Employee Retirement Plan	[1]	$ 12				451		463
Employee Retirement Plan (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	12
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		$ 8,368		$ 882		100,639	43,362	153,251
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		8,368	[1],[2],[3]	882	[4]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income							14,925	14,925
Cash dividends declared
Common stock							(9,122)	(9,122)
Issuance of common stock
Dividend reinvestment plan		$ 11				389		$ 400
Dividend reinvestment plan (in shares)		11	[1],[2],[3]					11
Employee stock options and awards	[3]	$ 21				426		$ 447
Employee stock options and awards (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	21
Employee Retirement Plan	[1]	$ 10				357		367
Employee Retirement Plan (in shares)	[1],[2],[3]	10
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 8,410		$ 882		$ 101,811	$ 49,165	$ 160,268
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		8,410	[1],[2],[3]	882	[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, 2019, 2018, and 2017, Class A Common Stock had 15,000,000 shares authorized. For the same periods, shares issued, inclusive of treasury shares, were 8,439,223, 8,398,005 and 8,362,431, 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. Includes stock compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, see Note 1-Stock Compensation Plans.

[4] At December 31, 2019, 2018, and 2017, Class B Common Stock had 1,040,000 shares authorized and 882,000 shares issued.