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
Stonewall Town 281 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1969, c. 385
Parmele Town 278 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 60 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-125
Severn Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1919, c. 39 SL 1953, c. 1176 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
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
Powellsville Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1919, c. 94 GS 163-290
Goldston Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 108 SL 1957, c. 704 GS 160A-101
Castalia Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 952
Earl Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 787 Although incorporated as \\\"Earl Station\\\" the town now goes by \\\"Earl\\\". In addition, although the town charter refers to the governing board as board of commissioners, the board in fact is referred to as the town council.
Sandy Creek Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1007
Falcon Town 258 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 318
Vandemere Town 254 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 311 GS 163-279
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Bath Town 249 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2006-88 PL 1941, c. 175 SL 1959, c. 189 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Askewville Town 241 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 1153
Roxobel Town 240 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 439
Halifax Town 234 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. Act 1786, c. 35
Dillsboro Town 232 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1889, c. 177 Pr. 1907, c. 274 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
Momeyer Town 224 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 242 SL 1995, c. 212
Mesic Town 220 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 626 GS 160A-101
Walstonburg Town 219 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 45
Cerro Gordo Town 207 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 1044 Although the town charter, SL 1973, c. 1044, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Colerain Town 204 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 290 GS 163-290
Harrells Town 202 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1969, c. 466 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of alderman.
Eureka Town 197 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 459 SL 1981, c. 70
Autryville Town 196 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality PL 1991, c. 384 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Crossnore Town 192 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected At pleasure of board AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1967, c. 832 Three aldermen are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the third finisher receives a two-year term.
Watha Town 190 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 158 SL 1989(90), c. 884 SL 2005-141
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 GS 160A-101
Pantego Town 179 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1881, c. 93
Marietta Town 175 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 111
Milton Town 166 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 130 PL 1967, c. 207
Everetts Town 164 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 321 SL 1979, c. 82
Lansing Town 158 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Boardman Town 157 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 876
Bolivia Town 143 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1961, c. 366
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
Norman Town 138 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. Ex. 1913, c. 74 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Middleburg Town 133 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality
Linden Town 130 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 398 SL 2001-472
Lasker Town 122 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 281 PL 1939, c. 48
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Proctorville Town 117 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1963, c. 306 GS 160A-101 PL 1913, c. 369 SL 2014 25
Tar Heel Town 117 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 763
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.
McDonald Town 113 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2014-24 Pr. 1911, c. 443 GS 163-279 SL 2014-24
Chimney Rock Village 113 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 444
Seven Springs Town 110 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 21
Harrellsville Town 106 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1955, c. 92 PL 1983, c. 138 Although the legislative acts cited above style the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Falkland Town 96 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1947, c. 1059 SL 1985(86), c. 832
Lumber Bridge Town 94 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 99 SL 1967, c. 226 SL 1995(96), c. 570 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Como Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1967, c. 920 Although the town charter, SL 1967, c. 920, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Orrum Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 993 SL 2017-58
Love Valley Town 90 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
Speed Town 80 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 169 SL 1957, c. 279
Bear Grass Town 73 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1909, c. 74 SL 1961, c. 1128
Raynham Town 72 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1975, c. 388 SL 1977, c. 16 GS 160A-101 SL 2017, c. 58
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
Lake Santeetlah Town 45 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1012 GS 160A-101 The mayor is elected by and from the board for a two-year term but serves at the board\'s pleasure and may be removed at any time during the term.
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.
Grandfather Village Village 25 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 419
Fontana Dam Town 22 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2011-110 GS 160A-101

Pages