-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H5IV5Fp1mDHk2z2M0HJDq+rmxXZ3bB0mEwUTcKcKLM69u60WmZuD5POCJiG62PT1
 jYhMPnSX4IY5ljnc/9GRIg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-041019.txt : 20040820
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-041019.hdr.sgml : 20040820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040820115800
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-041019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040820
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Dean Michael D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001293869

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11733
		FILM NUMBER:		04988061

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		304-562-5380

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3604 BROOKSHIRE DR
		CITY:			HURRICANE
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25526

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CITY HOLDING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000726854
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021]
		IRS NUMBER:				550619957
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 GATEWATER ROAD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 7520
		CITY:			CHARLESTON
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25313
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3047691100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 GATEWATER ROAD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 7520
		CITY:			CHARLESTON
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25313
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd51038.xml
<DESCRIPTION>DEAN, FORM 4 OPTION EXERCISE 8/20/2004
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000726854</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITY HOLDING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHCO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001293869</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dean Michael D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>25 GATEWATER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CROSS LANES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>25313</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Accounting Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3312.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by 401(k) Plan &amp; Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2735.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-12-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2800.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options awarded under this grant (12/6/1999) were subject to time vesting.  Vesting schedule was 20% each year beginning 12/1999 with full vesting of all options occurring on 12/6/2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option awards are subject to value vesting and vest only when the stock achieves certain target threshholds.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Victoria A. Evans, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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