<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>  THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 
THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET, STATEMENT OF INCOME, AND STATEMENT OF CASH 
FLOWS OF ARTESIAN RESOURCES CORPORATION'S MARCH 31, 1996 FORM 10-Q AND IS 
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   83,797,312
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                  1,034,920
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       4,559,459
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     5,707,889
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              95,099,580
<COMMON>                                     1,042,750
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    8,110,481
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          6,427,854
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              15,581,085
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          825,000
<PREFERRED>                                    271,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                        17,000,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                   10,490,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                5,000,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    470,601
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               334,556
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>              45,126,638
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               95,099,580
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    5,069,858
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           253,266
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,713,797
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,967,063
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,102,795
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,912
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,107,707
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       724,632
<NET-INCOME>                                   383,075
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     28,879
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  354,196
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       243,564
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                    1,992,400
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          87,915
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    $0.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    $0.33