<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000318300-04-000155
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040812
<FILING-DATE>20040823
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20040823
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>PEOPLES BANCORP INC
<CIK>0000318300
<ASSIGNED-SIC>6021
<IRS-NUMBER>310987416
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>OH
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>138 PUTNAM ST
<STREET2>P O BOX 738
<CITY>MARIETTA
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45750-0738
<PHONE>7403733155
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Ferguson Richard
<CIK>0001301251
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-16772
<FILM-NUMBER>04992157
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>740-373-3155
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>138 PUTNAM STREET
<STREET2>P.O. BOX 738
<CITY>MARIETTA
<STATE>OH
<ZIP>45750
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000318300</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEOPLES BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PEBO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301251</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ferguson Richard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>138 PUTNAM STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 738</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MARIETTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45750</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Donald J. Landers  For: Richard Ferguson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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