Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selectionsort ascending Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
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.
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.
Mount Olive Town 4,589 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 476 Pr. 1905, c. 201 SL 1979(80),c.1303 GS 160A-101 Four commissioners are elected from districts and one is elected at large.
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
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.
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.
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.
Webster Town 363 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1955, c. 423 SL 1957, c. 60 SL 1977, c. 171 Although the Webster town charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
Rennert Town 383 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 300 SL 2001-3 Although the Rennert town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Faison Town 961 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 378
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.
Peachland Town 437 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-328
Bridgeton Town 454 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 621
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.
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
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
Mount Pleasant Town 1,652 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 77 Pr. 1931, c. 148
Banner Elk Town 1,028 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 124 GS 160A-101
Chocowinity Town 820 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1959, c. 343 SL 2004-12
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
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.
Weddington Town 9,459 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 256 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101
Rhodhiss Town 1,070 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1961, c. 471 SL 1985, c. 94
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
Peletier Town 644 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Although the town charter styles the governing board as the council, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
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
Dortches Town 935 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1977, c. 358
Southern Pines Town 12,334 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 352 GS 160A-101
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
Murfreesboro Town 2,835 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983, c. 445 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
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
Roxboro City 8,362 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Majority SL 1997-282
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.
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
Weldon Town 1,655 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 83 SL 1965, c. 131 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
Rich Square Town 958 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1883, c. 128 GS 160A-66
Falcon Town 258 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 318
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
Pembroke Town 2,973 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 171 SL 1974, c. 1289 GS 160A-66, -101 GS 163-279 SL 1961, c. 97
Brookford Town 382 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 109 GS 163-279
Dover Town 401 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 375 GS 163-290
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
Murphy Town 1,627 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1979, c. 261 GS 160A-101
Bayboro Town 1,263 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 110 GS 160A-101
Clarkton Town 837 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 440 SL 1985, c. 36
Roxobel Town 240 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 439
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Maxton Town 2,426 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 731 GS 160A-101
Wendell Town 5,845 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 107
Lewiston Woodville Town 549 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL/DAL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 266 Four council members are elected from residence districts and one is elected at large.
Richfield Town 613 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1066 SL 1961, c. 527 GS 163-279 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Richfield municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Falkland Town 96 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1947, c. 1059 SL 1985(86), c. 832
Tarboro Town 11,415 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 73
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
Pikeville Town 678 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 108 SL 1977, c. 20 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Drexel Town 1,858 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 160A-101
Southport City 2,833 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 659
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
Nags Head Town 2,757 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 808 SL 1963, c. 148 SL 1969, c. 62 GS 160A-101
Bear Grass Town 73 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1909, c. 74 SL 1961, c. 1128
Clayton Town 16,116 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 983 GS 160A-101
Rural Hall Town 2,937 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973(74), c. 1100 GS 160A-101
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101

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