<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001239944-04-000111
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040818
<FILING-DATE>20040820
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WEARS JAMES A
<CIK>0001233262
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13695
<FILM-NUMBER>04988805
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>322 HAMILTON STREET
<CITY>OGDENSBURG
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>13669
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000723188</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233262</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEARS JAMES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>322 HAMILTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OGDENSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>13669</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President/Banking</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.93</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60526</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1399.9988</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </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>2429.974</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Son, Daniel</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2097.115</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Son, Thomas</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>796</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Daughter, Julia</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>39443.9754</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On April 12, 2004, the common stock of Community Bank System, Inc. split 2-for-1, resulting in the reporting person's acquisition of 30,763.0777 additional shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On April 12, 2004, the common stock of Community Bank System, Inc. split 2-for-1, resulting in the acquisition of 699.9994 additional shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On April 12, 2004, the common stock of Community Bank System, Inc. split 2-for-1, resulting in the acquisition of 1,198.255 additional shares of common stock.  Also, includes 16.32 and 17.144 shares acquired on April 9, 2004 and July 9, 2004, respectively, under the Community Bank System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On April 12, 2004, the common stock of Community Bank System, Inc. split 2-for-1, resulting in the acquisition of 1,034.118 additional shares of common stock.  Also, includes 14.084 and 14.795 shares acquired on April 9, 2004 and July 9, 2004, respectively, under the Community Bank System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On April 12, 2004, the common stock of Community Bank System, Inc. split 2-for-1, resulting in the acquisition of 392.519 additional shares of common stock.  Also, includes 5.346 and 5.616 shares acquired on April 9, 2004 and July 9, 2004, respectively, under the Community Bank System, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">On April 12, 2004, the common stock of Community Bank System, Inc. split 2-for-1, resulting in the 401(k) Plan's acquisition of 19,721.9877 additional shares of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Donna J. Drengel, attorney-in-fact, pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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