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 Term Election Methodsort descending Statutory Citations Notes
Pineville Town 7,479 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 296 G.S. 160A-101 (2015) The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
Wingate Town 3,491 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 55 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Newton City 12,968 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90). c. 1042 GS 160A-101
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.
Colerain Town 204 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 290 GS 163-290
Micro Town 441 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 762
Cajah\'s Mountain Town 2,823 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 2006-99 The charter does not specify if the chairperson serves for a term or at the pleasure of the council. The charter does not specify a form of government, but the town has always operated under the council-manager system.
Wallace Town 3,880 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 94 SL 1997-321
Seaboard Town 632 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pub. 1877, c. 208 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290
Linden Town 130 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 398 SL 2001-472
Benson Town 3,311 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1999-91 GS 160A-101 Three council members are elected from districts, and three are elected at large. In the election of at large members, each voter may only vote for one candidate.
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Rockwell Town 2,108 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 17 SL 1967, c. 37 GS 163-279
Alliance Town 776 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1965, c. 760
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
Pink Hill Town 552 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1955, c. 760 SL 2011-46 Pr. 1915, c. 31 Pr. 1933, c. 221
East Laurinburg Town 0 Council Manager Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 221 GS 160A-101 The Town of East Laurinburg was dissolved effective June 30, 2022.
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101
Newton Grove Town 569 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1935, c. 163 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
Columbia Town 891 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 GS 163-290 PL 1941, c. 423
Middleburg Town 133 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality
Calabash Town 1,786 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1999-16 SL 1973, c. 391 SL 1989, c. 593 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Wallburg Town 3,047 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2004-37.
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
Littleton Town 674 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-20
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
Andrews Town 1,781 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 135 SL 1959, c. 193 Pr. 1930, c. 187 SL 1977, c. 209 GS 160A-101 The town board employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Hayesville Town 311 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality PL 1913, c. 468 SL 1977, c. 210 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.
Pittsboro Town 3,743 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 348
East Spencer Town 1,534 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 374 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Winterville Town 9,269 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1993(94), c. 603
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.
Norlina Town 1,118 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 1020 SL 1969, c. 95
Stedman Town 1,028 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 67 SL 1953, c. 409
Columbus Town 999 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 46 Three council members are elected every two years. The person receiving the highest vote receives a four-year term; the next two finishers receive two-year terms.
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.
Calypso Town 538 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 264
Walnut Cove Town 1,425 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 447
Sedalia Town 623 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-444
Locust City 2,930 Mayor Council Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 246 SL 1977, c. 41 SL 2015-253. The council employs a city administrator to supervise all departments. Locust municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Bessemer City City 5,340 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years DAL 2 Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 1018
Kenly Town 1,339 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 14
Kernersville Town 23,123 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 381 GS 160A-101
Rolesville Town 3,786 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 PL 1941, c. 84 SL 1977, c. 346
Angier Town 4,350 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 2008-63
Hemby Bridge Town 1,520 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-143 SL 2007-101
Eastover Town 3,628 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-267
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.
Gaston Town 1,152 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1949, c. 1153 GS 160A-66
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.
Stem Town 463 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 183
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.
Midland Town 3,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2000-91 GS 160A-101
Cameron Town 285 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Laws 1876-77, c. 14 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
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.
Selma Town 6,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 934
Long View Town 4,871 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1955, c. 789 GS 160A-101
Bethania Town 328 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 74
Kill Devil Hills Town 6,683 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995(96), c. 735
Ronda Town 417 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101 S.C. 2019-27 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Elections are held in even-numbered years. (S.L. 2019-73)
Ansonville Town 631 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2003-190 Mun. Bd. Control 1928 GS 163-290
Plymouth Town 3,878 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years D 2 Plurality SL 1995, c. 325 SL 2001-51
Eden City 15,527 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 967 SL 1969, c. 781 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
Woodfin Town 6,123 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 271 SL 1979, c. 324 SL 1983, c. 291 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Gastonia City 71,741 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 557 SL 1993, c. 136 GS 160A-101
North Topsail Beach Town 743 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 100
Stokesdale Town 5,047 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1989, c. 488 GS 160A-101
Concord City 79,066 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL/DAL 4 Plurality SL 1985(86), c. 861 GS 160A-101 Six council members are elected from residence districts, and one is elected at large.
Midway Town 4,679 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2006-37.
Candor Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1908, c. 48 SL 1971, c. 576
Walstonburg Town 219 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 45
Seven Devils Town 192 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 205 GS 160A-101 Three council members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the person finishing third receives a two-year term.
Louisburg Town 3,359 Mayor Council Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 1022 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.

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