Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Termsort descending Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Tobaccoville Village 2,441 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 232 The council employs a village administrator who supervises all departments.
Fuquay-Varina Town 17,937 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 167 SL 1959, c. 774
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.
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.
Carolina Beach Town 5,706 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1973, c. 376 SL 1981, c. 842
Faith Town 807 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 159 SL 1979(80), c. 1111
Biscoe Town 1,700 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 24 SL 1963, c. 656 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
Washington City 9,744 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1995 (96) c. 736
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
Maiden Town 3,310 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 103 PL 1939, c. 350 SL 1955, c. 445 GS 160A-101 Three council members are elected every two years. The two persons with the highest vote totals receive four-year terms; the person with the third-highest vote total receives a two-year term.
Archdale City 11,415 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL/DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 667 SL 2007-41 Four council members are elected from residence districts, and two are elected at large. In addition, Archdale holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
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.
Topsail Beach Town 368 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, cc. 67, 284 SL 1977, c. 272 SL 1989, c. 153
Clarkton Town 837 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 440 SL 1985, c. 36
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Lansing Town 158 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Spring Lake Town 11,964 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 742 GS 160A-101
Carolina Shores Town 3,048 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL/DAL 4S Plurality SL 1998-75 SL 2003-78 Three commissioners are elected from residence districts, and two are elected at large.
Yanceyville Town 2,039 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 501 SL 2000-86
Salisbury City 33,662 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 205
Falcon Town 258 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 318
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Mooresville Town 32,711 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4S Primary SL 1975, c. 239 GS 160A-101 Four commissioners are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Black Creek Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1870, c. 104 SL 1951, c. 485 GS 160A-101
Rich Square Town 958 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1883, c. 128 GS 160A-66
Washington Park Town 451 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1949, c. 48
Dover Town 401 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 375 GS 163-290
Manteo Town 1,434 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1899, c. 66 Pr. 1907, c. 198 SL 1993, c. 108 GS 160A-101
Trent Woods Town 4,155 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 718 GS 163-279
Lasker Town 122 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 281 PL 1939, c. 48
Spruce Pine Town 2,175 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 335 SL 1995(96), c. 663 GS 160A-101
Carrboro Town 19,582 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 476
Falkland Town 96 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1947, c. 1059 SL 1985(86), c. 832
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.
Drexel Town 1,858 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 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
Marietta Town 175 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 111
Trenton Town 287 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 174 SL 1949, c. 879
Clemmons Village 18,627 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 437
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.
Lattimore Town 488 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1899, c. 52 Although the original town charter styled the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
St. James Town 3,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-241 GS 160A-101
Sandy Creek Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1007
Fallston Town 607 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 784 Although the town charter, SL 1973, c. 784, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Kenly Town 1,339 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 14
Richlands Town 1,520 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 47 SL 1949, c. 476
Dublin Town 338 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 509
Cleveland Town 871 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1927, c. 160 SL 1979(80), c. 1171 SL 1981, c. 262
Gaston Town 1,152 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1949, c. 1153 GS 160A-66
Staley Town 393 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 386 GS 163-279
Sandyfield Town 447 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 729
Farmville Town 4,654 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 406 GS 160A-101
Kernersville Town 23,123 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 381 GS 160A-101
Blowing Rock Town 1,241 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 419 GS 160A-101
River Bend Town 3,119 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control 1981 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
Duck Town 369 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2001-394.
Mars Hill Town 1,869 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 890
Askewville Town 241 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 1153
Pine Knoll Shores Town 1,339 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 265 GS 160A-101
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.
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
Stallings Town 13,831 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 758 GS 160A-101
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
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.
Morven Town 511 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1947, c. 765 SL 2006-147
Boardman Town 157 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 876
Roanoke Rapids City 15,754 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 34
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
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.
Clyde Town 1,223 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1889, c. 189 SL 1959, c. 1107 GS 160A-101 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Gatesville Town 321 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2009-465 Pr. 1923, c. 88 SL 2009-17 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
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.
Castalia Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 952

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