<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000764403
<NAME> E'TOWN CORPORATION
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      560,925
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     19,688
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          39,899
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        47,616
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 668,128
<COMMON>                                       148,632
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       (3,845)
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             42,306
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 187,093
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     12,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           243,330
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              26,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                           30
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 199,176
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  668,129
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       32,463
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             2,345
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      21,333
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      23,678
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                          8,785
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 171
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                   8,956
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,348
<NET-INCOME>                                     4,608
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        203
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,405
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,019
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,588
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           4,576
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .56<F1>
<FN>
<F1>IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS
</FN>