-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HT79vEt435/Bx50nEhANCkxRuc/upNuipjiw2Kax+NPVQaw8M0ccE1+AYBfin04a
 C8cxJHG8+Q614JJ4ZjOzKA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000032689-04-000019.txt : 20040317
<SEC-HEADER>0000032689-04-000019.hdr.sgml : 20040317
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040317165702
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000032689-04-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040315
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040317

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEON JULIO S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207872

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03368
		FILM NUMBER:		04676080

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO
		STREET 2:		602 JOPLIN STREET PO BOX 127
		CITY:			JOPLIN
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64802
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4176255100

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000032689
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				440236370
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KS
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		602 JOPLIN ST
		CITY:			JOPLIN
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64801
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4176255100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 127
		CITY:			JOPLIN
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			64802
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032689</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EDE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207872</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEON JULIO S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>THE EMPIRE DISTRICT ELECTRIC COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>602 JOPLIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JOPLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>64801</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-03-15</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>49.791</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.845</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>49.791</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3604.417</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of Phantom Stock Units are awarded to director pursuant to Stock Unit Plan for Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares of Phantom Stock Units are exercisable upon retirement or death and do not expire.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Janet S. Watson, Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----