<ARTICLE>                                                 5
<CIK>                                            0000863437
<NAME>                                   HECTOR COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                              1
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. DOLLARS

                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                  JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                    SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                           1
<CASH>                                           15,529,531
<SECURITIES>                                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     4,678,557
<ALLOWANCES>                                              0
<INVENTORY>                                         816,913
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 21,770,871
<PP&E>                                           92,072,180
<DEPRECIATION>                                   37,106,654
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  159,747,411
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            10,426,732
<BONDS>                                          85,530,830
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                         221,300
<COMMON>                                             35,204
<OTHER-SE>                                       39,180,872
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    159,747,411
<SALES>                                          27,588,975
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 27,588,975
<CGS>                                            19,440,284
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    19,440,284
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 (3,738,315)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                4,476,955
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   7,410,051
<INCOME-TAX>                                      3,244,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               4,166,051
<DISCONTINUED>                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                      3,082,580
<EPS-BASIC>                                            0.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          0.80