Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities
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Name | Style | Population | Form of Gov. | Governing Body | # Mem. | Mayor Selection | Mayor Term | Board Selection | Board Term | Election Method | Statutory Citations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | |
Stallings | Town | 13,831 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 758 GS 160A-101 | |
Henderson | City | 15,368 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 2 | Majority | SL 1967, c. 780 SL 1997-62 GS 160A-101 | Four council members are elected from districts, and four are elected at large. |
Wadesboro | Town | 5,813 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 297 SL 2003-190 | |
New Bern | City | 29,524 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Majority | SL 1985, c. 64 SL 1957, c. 1281 SL 1983, c. 174 GS 160A-101 | |
Sanford | City | 28,094 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Partisan | SL 1967, c. 650 SL 1997-245 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 SL 2013-220 | Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
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 | |
Laurinburg | City | 15,962 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989, c. 586 SL 1995, c. 65 GS 160A-101 | Four council members are elected from districts and one is elected at large. |
Fairmont | Town | 2,663 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL,1973, c. 288 GS 160A-101 | |
Roanoke Rapids | City | 15,754 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 34 | |
Troy | Town | 3,189 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1883, c. 153 Pr. 1913, c. 342 SL 1957, c. 125 GS 160A-101 SL 2017-12 | Troy municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
Kill Devil Hills | Town | 6,683 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1995(96), c. 735 | |
Mount Airy | City | 10,388 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 2003-281 | Four commissioners are elected from residence districts and one is elected at large. |
Hendersonville | City | 13,137 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 874 | |
China Grove | Town | 3,563 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 2002-42 | Although the town charter, SL 2002-42, styles the governing board as the board of alderman, the town actually styles the board as the town council. |
Marshville | Town | 2,402 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1913, c. 313 SL 1973, c. 652 SL 2000-62 SL 2010-21 | The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. |
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. |
Robbins | Town | 1,097 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1935, c. 63 SL 1979, c. 230 160A-101 | |
Tryon | Town | 1,646 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1971, c. 441 GS 160A-101 | |
King | City | 6,904 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1983, c. 351 GS 160A-101 | |
Dobson | Town | 1,586 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 232 GS 160A-101 SL 2012, c. 47 | Dobson holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
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 | |
Pinehurst | Village | 13,124 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Mun. Bd. Control 1980 GS 160A-101 | |
Stanley | Town | 3,556 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | DAL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1911, c. 233 GS 160A-101 | |
Hertford | Town | 2,143 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1965, c. 586 | |
Wake Forest | Town | 30,117 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 273 SL 1993, c. 118 | |
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. |
Boiling Spring Lakes | City | 5,372 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 62 | |
Kings Mountain | City | 10,296 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 2 | Plurality | SL 1947, c. 684 SL 1951, c. 836 SL 1969, c. 204 GS 160A-101 | Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Mount Holly | City | 13,656 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 212 | |
Stantonsburg | Town | 784 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1977(78), c. 1212 GS 160A-101 | |
Hickory | City | 40,010 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 1961, c. 323 SL 1967, c. 404 | |
Claremont | Town | 1,352 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 2005-54 SL 1961, c. 76 SL 1975, c. 97 GS 160A-101 | |
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 | |
Walkertown | Town | 4,675 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1983(84), c. 936 GS 160A-101 | |
Catawba | Town | 603 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1965, c. 224 GS 160A-101 | |
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 | |
Gibsonville | Town | 6,410 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1979, c. 392 | |
Leland | Town | 13,527 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101 | |
Boiling Springs | Town | 4,647 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1953, c. 349 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. |
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. |
High Point | City | 104,371 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4 | Primary | SL 1991, c. 40 GS 160A-101 SL 2006-171 SL 1979, c. 501 SL 2013-261 | Six council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. Municipal elections reverted to being held in odd-numbered years in 2017. |
Maxton | Town | 2,426 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1971, c. 731 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 | |
Newton | City | 12,968 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989(90). c. 1042 GS 160A-101 | |
Lenoir | City | 18,228 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262 | |
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. |
Drexel | Town | 1,858 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 160A-101 | |
Winston-Salem | City | 229,617 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Partisan | Pr. 1927, c. 232 Pr. 1933, c. 60 SL 1947, c. 601 SL 1965, c. 53 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-141 | Winston-Salem municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
Statesville | City | 24,532 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Majority | SL 1977, c. 289 SL 1985, c. 570 GS 160A-101 | Six council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Clayton | Town | 16,116 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1987(88), c. 983 GS 160A-101 | |
Mayodan | Town | 2,478 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 501 GS 160A-101 | |
Ayden | Town | 4,932 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1965, c. 79 GS 163-290 SL 2013-48 | |
Rocky Mount | City | 57,477 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Majority | SL 2003-327 | |
Winterville | Town | 9,269 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 1993(94), c. 603 | |
Pittsboro | Town | 3,743 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 348 | |
Clemmons | Village | 18,627 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S/2 | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 437 | |
Maysville | Town | 1,019 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4 | Plurality | GS 160A-101 Pr. 1897, c. 171 GS 163-279 | |
Walnut Cove | Town | 1,425 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1991, c. 447 | |
Goldsboro | City | 36,437 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Primary | SL 1973, c. 69 SL 1975, c. 245 SL 1985(86), c. 888 GS 160A-101 | |
Lewisville | Town | 12,639 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1991, c. 116 | |
Boone | Town | 17,122 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S/2 | Plurality | Pr. 1931, c. 187 SL 1969, c. 905 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1907, c. 107 | Three board members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the third-highest vote getter receives a two-year term. |
Badin | Town | 1,974 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | By and from Governing Board | 2 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989(90), c. 894 SL 2015-253 | Two council members are elected from residence districts, and three are elected at large. Baldin holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
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 | |
Duck | Town | 369 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | By and from Governing Board | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 2001-394. | |
Hildebran | Town | 2,023 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1899, c. 212 SL 1973, c. 433 SL 1993, c. 238 | Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council. |
Selma | Town | 6,073 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1991(92), c. 934 | |
Lexington | City | 18,931 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1981, c. 906 SL 1987, c. 64 | Six council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Farmville | Town | 4,654 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1979, c. 406 GS 160A-101 | |
Dunn | City | 9,263 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Majority | SL 1969, c. 818 SL 1971, c. 104 GS 160A-101 | |
Plymouth | Town | 3,878 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 325 SL 2001-51 | |
Hillsborough | Town | 6,087 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1985, c. 351 GS 160A-101 | |
Clinton | Town | 8,639 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1985(86), c. 943 SL 1989(90), c. 887 | |
North Topsail Beach | Town | 743 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989, c. 100 |