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 ascending Statutory Citations Notes
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.
Wade Town 556 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1913, c. 408 SL 1969, c. 89
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.
Liberty Town 2,656 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 579
Casar Town 297 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1971, c. 775 PL 1903, c. 359 GS 160A-101
Swansboro Town 2,663 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 207 GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 561 SL 1955, c. 443
Jamesville Town 491 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1951, c. 232 GS 160A-101
Roanoke Rapids City 15,754 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 34
Boardman Town 157 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 876
Sims Town 282 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 58 SL 1953, c. 292
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.
Pine Level Town 1,700 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 425 SL 1957, c. 50
Atkinson Town 299 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1921, c. 163 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-44
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
Franklinville Town 1,164 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 1017
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
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
Wadesboro Town 5,813 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 297 SL 2003-190
Conetoe Town 294 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1887, c. 154 SL 1957, c. 278 SL 1959, c. 63
Lilesville Town 536 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 764
Castalia Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 952
Swepsonville Town 1,154 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1997-448
Jefferson Town 1,611 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 552 GS 160A-101
Robbins Town 1,097 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1935, c. 63 SL 1979, c. 230 160A-101
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.
Smithfield Town 10,966 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 827 SL 1989, c. 203 Pr. 1933, c. 36, 61 SL 1959, c. 56 Three council members are elected from districts, and four are elected at large.
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.
Pinebluff Town 1,337 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 243 GS 160A-101
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.
Wilson\'s Mills Town 2,277 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1996 (2d extra), c. 12
Rosman Town 576 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 172 Pr. 1905, c. 105 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279
Fremont Town 1,255 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 4 Years D 4 Plurality SL 2009-292 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Edenton Town 5,004 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1985(86), c. 815 Four council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
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.
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.
Wagram Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 161 SL 1981, c. 404
Connelly Springs Town 1,669 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 528 SL 1993, c. 37
Lillington Town 3,194 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 252 SL 1959, c. 901 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
Caswell Beach Town 398 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 293 GS 160A-101
Sylva Town 2,588 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1899, c. 72 SL 1957, c. 27 SL 1961, c. 31 SL 2000-30
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.
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.
Boiling Spring Lakes City 5,372 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 62
Snow Hill Town 1,595 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 58 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Harrisburg Town 11,526 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 111 GS 160A-101
Pinehurst Village 13,124 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control 1980 GS 160A-101
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
Rowland Town 1,037 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-105 SL 2000-45
Fuquay-Varina Town 17,937 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 167 SL 1959, c. 774
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.
Mebane City 11,393 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 514 GS 160A-101
Wake Forest Town 30,117 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 273 SL 1993, c. 118
Conover City 8,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 78 GS 160A-101
Catawba Town 603 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 224 GS 160A-101
Tabor City Town 2,511 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 40 Pr. 1935, c. 18 SL 1957, c 255 GS 160A-101
Kannapolis City 42,625 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 191 GS 160A-101
Robersonville Town 1,488 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 59 SL 1951, c. 48 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from two-member districts, and one is elected at large.
Boiling Springs Town 4,647 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 349 GS 160A-101
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
Pinetops Town 1,374 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1921, c. 64 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Aurora Town 520 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 256 GS 160A-101
Winfall Town 594 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 342, 773 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.
Elizabethtown Town 3,583 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1895, c. 156 SL 2004-34
Newport Town 4,150 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1927, c. 225 SL 1969, c. 495 GS 160A-101
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
Wallace Town 3,880 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 94 SL 1997-321
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.
Linden Town 130 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 398 SL 2001-472
Tar Heel Town 117 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 763
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Rockingham City 9,558 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1974, c. 1265 SL 1995(96), c. 698 SL 2001-68 Three board members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the person with the third-highest vote total receives a two-year term.
Bolivia Town 143 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1961, c. 366
Southern Shores Town 2,714 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1979, c. 203

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