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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-05-068671.txt : 20051223
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-05-068671.hdr.sgml : 20051223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051223110542
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-05-068671
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUMGARNER DAVID L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001314692

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11733
		FILM NUMBER:		051284353

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		304-757-1429

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		214 BENT TREE ESTATES
		CITY:			SCOTT DEPOT
		STATE:			WV
		ZIP:			25560

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>rrd101256.xml
<DESCRIPTION>BUMGARNER, 12-21-2005 OPTION AWARD
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001314692</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUMGARNER DAVID L</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 Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.925</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000.</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-12-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-20</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>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options will vest and become exercisable in four separate installments as follows: 2,500 on 2/1/2005; 2,500 on 2/1/2006; 2,500 on 2/1/2007; and 2,500 on 2/1/2008</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Victoria A. Evans, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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