<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001239944-04-000071
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<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040310
<FILING-DATE>20040311
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BELDEN SANFORD A
<CIK>0001233240
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
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<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13695
<FILM-NUMBER>04662424
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<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>9 LYNACRES BLVD
<CITY>FAYETTEVILLE
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>13066
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
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<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC
<CIK>0000723188
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6021
<IRS-NUMBER>161213679
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5790 WIDEWATERS PKWY
<CITY>DEWITT
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>13214
<PHONE>8007242262
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>5790 WIDEWATERS PARKWAY
<CITY>DEWITT
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>13214
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<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBU</issuerTradingSymbol>
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            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAYETTEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>13066</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President &amp; Chief Executive Of</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
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            <securityTitle>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2256</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11814</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-01</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.35</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2208</value>
                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>31.35</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donna J. Drengel, as attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
