City Holding Company (Parent Company Only) Financial Information (Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Activities
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders	$ 22,611	$ 22,371	$ 22,751	$ 21,619	$ 10,713	$ 20,692	$ 20,979	$ 17,616	$ 89,352	$ 70,002	$ 54,310
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)									(957)	90	(4,476)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									4,939	(1,244)	14,909
Stock based compensation									2,516	2,151	2,097
Asset write down									297	491	0
Change in other assets									(7,489)	480	(2,102)
Change in other liabilities									6,712	4,308	2,953
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									98,643	72,648	76,126
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									70,404	0	5,776
Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans and Leases									(30,146)	(95,284)	(85,489)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities									(103,301)	(163,541)	(171,688)
Financing Activities
Repayment of long-term debt									0	(16,495)	0
Proceeds from sale of capital securities									0	495	0
Dividends paid									(35,547)	(29,583)	(27,120)
Issuance of common stock									0	0	28,408
Purchases of treasury stock									(19,431)	(20,271)	0
Exercise of stock options									526	1,164	597
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities									21,811	131,376	89,931
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents									17,153	40,483	(5,631)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				122,991				82,508	122,991	82,508	88,139
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	140,144				122,991				140,144	122,991	82,508
Parent Company
Operating Activities
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders									89,352	70,002	54,310
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Unrealized and Realized Investment Gains (Losses)									(425)	(208)	(200)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)									173	(88)	1,347
Depreciation, Amortization and Accretion, Net									3	1	1
Stock based compensation									2,516	2,151	2,097
Asset write down									0	193	0
Change in other assets									2,696	2,668	(405)
Change in other liabilities									(2,060)	(1,816)	(1,660)
Equity In Undistributed Earnings Of Subsidiaries									(32,297)	(23,171)	(25,199)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities									59,958	49,732	30,291
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of available for sale securities									6	0	200
Payments for (Proceeds from) Loans and Leases									38	0	0
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities									44	(23,452)	200
Financing Activities
Repayment of long-term debt									0	(16,495)	0
Proceeds from sale of capital securities									0	495	0
Dividends paid									(35,547)	(29,583)	(27,120)
Issuance of common stock									0	0	28,408
Purchases of treasury stock									(19,431)	(20,271)	0
Exercise of stock options									526	1,164	732
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities									(54,452)	(64,690)	2,020
Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents									5,550	(38,410)	32,511
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				$ 20,621				$ 59,031	20,621	59,031	26,520
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 26,171				$ 20,621				$ 26,171	20,621	59,031
Farmers Deposit Bancorp, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition											0
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired										(20,691)
Farmers Deposit Bancorp, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition										946
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired										(23,954)
Poage Bankshares, Inc. [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition											$ 0
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired										32,917
Poage Bankshares, Inc. [Member] | Parent Company
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash Acquired from Acquisition										518
Investing Activities
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired										$ 502