<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES' CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000020520
<NAME> CITIZENS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 3,255,120
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 147,457<F1>
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,027,119<F10>
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 181,800<F2>
<OTHER-ASSETS> 172,301<F3>
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,420,053<F4>
<COMMON> 66,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 1,613,693
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 273,393
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,849,104<F11>
201,250<F5>
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 2,925,680
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 84,187
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 1,359,832<F6>
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 6,420,053<F6>
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,150,140
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 2,298
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 81,926<F7>
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,056,073<F12>
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 94,067
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 27,308
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 121,375
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 116,288
<NET-INCOME> 11,804<F8>
4,657<F5>
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 11,804<F8>
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 269,141
<EPS-BASIC> .04<F9>
<EPS-DILUTED> .04<F9>
<FN>
<F1>REPRESENTS INVESTMENT FUNDS.
<F2>REPRESENTS REGULATORY ASSETS.
<F3>REPRESENTS DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS.
<F4>INCLUDES $1,169,898 OF ASSETS OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND $466,358 OF
EXCESS OF COST OVER NET ASSETS ACQUIRED.
<F5>COMPANY OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED SECURITIES OF
A SUBSIDIARY TRUST, THE SOLE ASSETS OF WHICH ARE SECURITIES OF A SUBSIDIARY
PARTNERSHIP, SUBSTANTIALLY ALL THE ASSETS OF WHICH ARE CONVERTIBLE
DEBENTURES OF THE COMPANY.
<F6>INCLUDES $332,545 OF LIABILITIES OF DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.
<F7>REPRESENTS NETWORK ACCESS EXPENSES.
<F8>INCLUDES $13,672 OF INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX.
<F9>EPS BASIC AND DILUTED INCLUDES $.05 OF INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
PER COMMON SHARE.
<F10>INCLUDES $498,290 OF NET ASSETS HELD FOR SALE AND $224,655 OF SHORT-TERM
INVESTMENTS.
<F11>INCLUDES $50,031 OF TREASURY STOCK AND $54,174 OF ACCUMULATED OTHER
COMPREHENSIVE LOSS.
<F12>INCLUDES $24,130 OF ACQUISITION ASSIMILATION EXPENSE.
</FN>
</TABLE>
