<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<LEGEND>
This Financial Data Schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from The Woodbury Telephone Company's Financial Statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1996 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   21,228,961
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    757,482
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       6,410,283
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       336,780
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 294,776
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              29,028,822
<COMMON>                                     1,922,768
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,475,394
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                         10,875,785
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>              14,273,947
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         9,000,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               5,754,875
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               29,028,822
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                   14,342,596
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                         1,460,939
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   9,679,226
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                  11,140,165
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      3,202,431
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                             277,657
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               3,480,088
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       838,835
<NET-INCOME>                                 2,641,253
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                2,641,253
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     1,169,042
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      810,000
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       4,846,078
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.43