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 Selectionsort descending Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
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.
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.
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
Elon Town 9,419 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 109
North Wilkesboro Town 4,245 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 263
Saratoga Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 462 SL 1977, c. 479 GS 163-290
Jonesville Town 2,285 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-16 SL 2017-56 Jonesville municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
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
Mount Gilead Town 1,181 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 133 SL 1957, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Harrisburg Town 11,526 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 111 GS 160A-101
Cedar Rock Town 300 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-317
Rose Hill Town 1,626 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 67 SL 1969, c. 330 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
White Lake Town 802 Mayor Council Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-150
Turkey Town 292 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 82
Marvin Village 5,579 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 641 The council employs a village administrator to supervise all employees.
Fuquay-Varina Town 17,937 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 167 SL 1959, c. 774
Bridgeton Town 454 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 621
Polkville Town 545 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 178 SL 1979, c. 266 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Vanceboro Town 1,005 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1929, c. 26
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
Banner Elk Town 1,028 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 124 GS 160A-101
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
Northwest City 735 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 222
Sawmills Town 5,240 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1987, c. 648 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Kannapolis City 42,625 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 191 GS 160A-101
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.
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
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.
Roseboro Town 1,191 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 279 SL 1995, c. 18
Whiteville City 5,394 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1018 GS 160A-101
Unionville Town 5,929 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-151 SL 1999-90
Matthews Town 27,198 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1879, c. 60 Pr. 1911, c. 172 SL 1951, c. 179 GS 160A-101
Gamewell Town 4,051 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 31 Although the town charter, SL 1981, c. 31, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Broadway Town 1,229 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1947, c. 548 SL 1997-416 SL 1999-230 SL 2000-39
Pollocksville Town 311 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 163 SL 1965, c. 202 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279
Vandemere Town 254 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 311 GS 163-279
Stantonsburg Town 784 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1212 GS 160A-101
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 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.
Norwood Town 2,379 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 212 SL 2001-15 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Norwood municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Scotland Neck Town 2,059 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 342 PL 1941, c. 106 SL 1951, c. 667 SL 1957, c. 267 SL 1973, c. 382 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who acts as clerk and also supervises all departments.
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
Havelock Town 20,735 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1959, c. 952 SL 1977, c. 152 SL 1995(96), c. 619 SL 1999-126 GS 160A-66
Chadbourn Town 1,856 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 895 SL 2007-271
Whitsett Town 590 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 684
Maxton Town 2,426 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 731 GS 160A-101
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Brookford Town 382 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 109 GS 163-279
Powellsville Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1919, c. 94 GS 163-290
Varnamtown Town 541 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1003
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.
Lenoir City 18,228 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262
Bayboro Town 1,263 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 110 GS 160A-101
Erwin Town 4,405 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1967, c. 12 GS 160A-101
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
Seaboard Town 632 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pub. 1877, c. 208 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 GS 160A-101
Haw River Town 2,298 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 234 SL 1973(74), c. 895 GS 160A-101
Chapel Hill Town 57,233 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 473 SL 1981, c. 911 GS 160A-101
Wilkesboro Town 3,413 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1889, c. 240 SL 1979, c. 645 Although the Wilkesboro charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Mayodan Town 2,478 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 501 GS 160A-101
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101
Brunswick Town 1,119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 197
Princeton Town 1,194 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-52
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.
Bear Grass Town 73 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1909, c. 74 SL 1961, c. 1128
Eureka Town 197 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 459 SL 1981, c. 70
Oak Island Town 6,783 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-66 GS 160A-101 SL 2003-84
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
Sedalia Town 623 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-444
Kenly Town 1,339 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 14

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