Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Termsort descending Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Bethel Town 1,577 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 609 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1873-74, c. 20
Teachey Town 376 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1957, c. 253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who also acts as clerk.
Spencer City 3,267 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 37 PL 1939, c. 222 SL 1951, c. 325 SL 1957, c. 870 GS 160A-101,
Henderson City 15,368 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years AL/D 2 Majority SL 1967, c. 780 SL 1997-62 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from districts, and four are elected at large.
Wilson City 49,167 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years D 2 Plurality SL 1969, c. 136 SL 1979, c. 334 GS 160A-101
Plymouth Town 3,878 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years D 2 Plurality SL 1995, c. 325 SL 2001-51
Elm City Town 1,298 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 152
Spencer Mountain Town 37 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 473 Although the Spencer Mountain charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Polkton Town 3,375 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2003-328 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
McFarlan Town 117 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1885, c. 102 PL 1947, c. 771 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Canton Town 4,227 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 90 Pr. 1911, c. 178 Pr. 1935, c. 119 GS 160A-101
Lilesville Town 536 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 764
Kings Mountain City 10,296 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 684 SL 1951, c. 836 SL 1969, c. 204 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Arapahoe Town 556 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1969, c. 200
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
Creswell Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 276 SL 1993(94), c. 626 GS 163-279
Mesic Town 220 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 626 GS 160A-101
Walkertown Town 4,675 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 936 GS 160A-101
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
Black Creek Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1870, c. 104 SL 1951, c. 485 GS 160A-101
Trent Woods Town 4,155 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 718 GS 163-279
Spring Lake Town 11,964 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 742 GS 160A-101
Powellsville Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1919, c. 94 GS 163-290
Micro Town 441 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 762
Salisbury City 33,662 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 205
Oak City Town 317 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 155 PL 1953, c. 66 Pr. 1891, c. 100 GS 163-290
Linden Town 130 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 398 SL 2001-472
Trenton Town 287 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 174 SL 1949, c. 879
Middleburg Town 133 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality
Godwin Town 139 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 397 SL 1947, c. 243 GS 163-279 SL 2009-5
Davidson Town 10,944 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1879, c. 32 SL 1957, c. 36
Charlotte City 731,424 Council Manager Council Members 11 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Partisan SL 2000-26 Seven council members are elected from districts and four are elected at large.
Everetts Town 164 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 321 SL 1979, c. 82
Walnut Cove Town 1,425 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 447
Askewville Town 241 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 1153
Staley Town 393 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 386 GS 163-279
Winton Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 674 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Goldston Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 108 SL 1957, c. 704 GS 160A-101
Oakboro Town 1,859 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 51 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Oakboro municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Walstonburg Town 219 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 45
Love Valley Town 90 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Atlantic Beach Town 1,495 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1937, c. 433 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter refers to the governing board as the board of commissioners, in fact the town refers to it as the town council.
Stanfield Town 1,486 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1957, c. 485 SL 2015-253 Stanfield municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Woodland Town 809 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 136 GS 163-279
Raleigh City 403,892 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Majority SL 1949, c. 1184 SL 1957, c. 121 SL 1973, c. 319 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Saratoga Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 462 SL 1977, c. 479 GS 163-290
Oriental Town 900 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1993, c. 4 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1899, c. 184 SL 1991(92), c. 878
Kittrell Town 467 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1885, c. 136 GS 163-279
Turkey Town 292 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 82
Aulander Town 895 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1933, c. 95 SL 1967, c. 20 GS 163-290, PL 1939, c. 288
Hoffman Town 588 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1002
Faith Town 807 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 159 SL 1979(80), c. 1111
Washington City 9,744 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1995 (96) c. 736
Dover Town 401 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 375 GS 163-290
Bolivia Town 143 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1961, c. 366
Clarkton Town 837 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 440 SL 1985, c. 36
Ranlo Town 3,434 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 776
Minnesott Beach Town 440 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 890
Seaboard Town 632 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pub. 1877, c. 208 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290
Falcon Town 258 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 318
Washington Park Town 451 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1949, c. 48
Mint Hill Town 22,722 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 73 GS 160A-101
Greenevers Town 634 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Falkland Town 96 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1947, c. 1059 SL 1985(86), c. 832
Fallston Town 607 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 784 Although the town charter, SL 1973, c. 784, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Pantego Town 179 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1881, c. 93
Dublin Town 338 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 509
Stedman Town 1,028 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 67 SL 1953, c. 409
Parkton Town 436 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1945, c. 803 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Duck Town 369 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2001-394.
Stem Town 463 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 183
Hope Mills Town 15,176 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 650 SL 2016-66
Greensboro City 269,666 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Primary SL 1959, c. 1137 SL 1973, c. 213 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts, and three are elected at large.
Greenville City 84,554 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 272 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts and one at large.

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