Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Populationsort ascending Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Gaston Town 1,152 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1949, c. 1153 GS 160A-66
Brunswick Town 1,119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 197
Norlina Town 1,118 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 1020 SL 1969, c. 95
Lucama Town 1,108 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 117
Garysburg Town 1,057 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1985, c. 56 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Stoneville Town 1,056 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983, c. 287 GS 160A-101 SL 2008-9 The council employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Ellerbe Town 1,054 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 310 Pr. 1931, c. 24
Rowland Town 1,037 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-105 SL 2000-45
Stedman Town 1,028 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 67 SL 1953, c. 409
Vanceboro Town 1,005 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1929, c. 26
Faison Town 961 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 378
Cooleemee Town 960 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 424
Rich Square Town 958 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1883, c. 128 GS 160A-66
Fair Bluff Town 951 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1913, c. 25 SL 1983(84), c. 1007
Alamance Village 951 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 840
Belwood Town 950 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1208 SL 1981, c. 114
Magnolia Town 939 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 174 SL 1963, c. 82
Dortches Town 935 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1977, c. 358
Highlands Town 924 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1991, c. 519 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Old Fort Town 908 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 271
Foxfire Village Village 902 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 237
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
Star Town 876 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 448 SL 2017-12 Star municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Ellenboro Town 873 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-310 SL 1983, c. 425 Although the town charter, SL 1983, c. 425, and SL 2007-310 each style the governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
Marshall Town 872 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 165 Pr. 1913, c. 232 Pr. 1923, c. 35 GS 160A-101
Cleveland Town 871 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1927, c. 160 SL 1979(80), c. 1171 SL 1981, c. 262
Dobbins Heights Town 866 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1983, c. 658
Warrenton Town 862 Mayor Council Commissioners 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 201 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
Wagram Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 161 SL 1981, c. 404
Candor Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1908, c. 48 SL 1971, c. 576
Clarkton Town 837 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 440 SL 1985, c. 36
Conway Town 836 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 161 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Walnut Creek Village 835 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 687 The council employs a village administrator who supervises all departments.
Middlesex Town 822 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 1178 SL 1961, c. 44 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1908, c. 21 SL 2013-177 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Chocowinity Town 820 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1959, c. 343 SL 2004-12
Woodland Town 809 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 136 GS 163-279
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
White Lake Town 802 Mayor Council Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-150
Alliance Town 776 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1965, c. 760
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.
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
Whitakers Town 744 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 996 SL 1979, c. 311 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Red Cross Town 742 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-56. SL 2015-253 Red Cross municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Northwest City 735 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 222
Misenheimer Village 728 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-268 SL 2004-19. SL 2015-253 Misenheimer municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Montreat Town 723 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 295 SL 1998-38 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Beginning with 2015 election, Mayor term is four years.
Taylortown Town 722 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 601
Vass Town 720 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c 407 SL 1953, c. 817 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Saluda City 713 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1933, c. 123 The board of commissioners employs a city administrator to supervise all departments.
Grover Town 708 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 812 GS 160A-101
Newland Town 698 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1951, c. 222 Pr. 1913, c. 275 GS 160A-101 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
High Shoals City 696 Mayor Council Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 317 GS 160A-101
Bolton Town 691 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 271
Grantsboro Town 688 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1997-446 SL 2011-83
Bogue Town 684 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 286 Although the town charter, SL 1995, c. 286, styles the town governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the governing board as the board of commissioners.
Kingstown Town 681 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1989, c. 632
Pikeville Town 678 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 108 SL 1977, c. 20 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Littleton Town 674 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-20
McAdenville Town 651 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Peletier Town 644 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Although the town charter styles the governing board as the council, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
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.
Seaboard Town 632 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pub. 1877, c. 208 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290
Ansonville Town 631 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2003-190 Mun. Bd. Control 1928 GS 163-290
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Sedalia Town 623 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-444
Patterson Springs Town 622 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 129 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Robbinsville Town 620 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 190 SL 1981, c. 194 Although the Robbinsville charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Richfield Town 613 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1066 SL 1961, c. 527 GS 163-279 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Richfield municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
East Bend Town 612 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 611 Pr. 1887, c. 144 SL 1985, c. 104 SL 2017-56 Three board members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the most votes receive four-year terms; the person with the third-highest vote total receives a two-year term. East Bend municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Roper Town 611 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 24 GS 160A-101 SL 2008-104 Although the Roper charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
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.
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
New London Town 600 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 91 SL 2001-131 SL 2015-253 New London municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Winfall Town 594 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 342, 773 GS 160A-101

Pages