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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlotte | City | 731,424 | Council Manager | Council Members | 11 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 2 | Partisan | SL 2000-26 | Seven council members are elected from districts and four are elected at large. |
Raleigh | City | 403,892 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 2 | Majority | SL 1949, c. 1184 SL 1957, c. 121 SL 1973, c. 319 GS 160A-101 | Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Greensboro | City | 269,666 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 2 | Primary | SL 1959, c. 1137 SL 1973, c. 213 GS 160A-101 | Five council members are elected from districts, and three are elected at large. |
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. |
Durham | City | 228,330 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 1975, c. 671 GS 160A-101 | Three council members are elected from residence districts, and three are elected at large. |
Fayetteville | City | 200,564 | Council Manager | Council Members | 9 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Primary | SL 1979, c. 557, 794 GS 160A-101 | |
Cary | Town | 135,234 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Majority | SL 2005-117 | Four council members are elected from districts and two are elected at large. |
Wilmington | City | 106,476 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1977, c. 495 GS 160A-101 | |
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. |
Greenville | City | 84,554 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 2 | Plurality | SL 1981, c. 272 GS 160A-101 | Five council members are elected from districts and one at large. |
Asheville | City | 83,393 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1935, c. 30 SL 1969, c. 165 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1931, c. 121 SL 2018-123 | Asheville holds municipal elections in even-numbered years (SL 2018-123). One council member is at-large; the remaining five members are elected from districts. (SL 2018-123) |
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. |
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 | |
Jacksonville | City | 70,145 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1967, c. 911 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 | Four council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Rocky Mount | City | 57,477 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Majority | SL 2003-327 | |
Chapel Hill | Town | 57,233 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 473 SL 1981, c. 911 GS 160A-101 | |
Burlington | City | 49,963 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4 | Primary | SL 1961, c. 119 GS 160A-101 SL 2014-74 | |
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 | |
Huntersville | Town | 46,773 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | Pr. 1885, c. 46 GS 160A-66 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 | |
Hickory | City | 40,010 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 1961, c. 323 SL 1967, c. 404 | |
Apex | Town | 37,476 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1985, c. 356 GS 160A-101 | |
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 | |
Salisbury | City | 33,662 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | By and from Governing Board | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1987, c. 205 | |
Indian Trail | Town | 33,518 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 2009-257 | |
Monroe | City | 32,797 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Majority | SL 2000-35 | |
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. |
Wake Forest | Town | 30,117 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 273 SL 1993, c. 118 | |
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. |
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 | |
Thomasville | City | 26,757 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4 | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 1981, c. 211 | |
Garner | Town | 25,745 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101 | |
Asheboro | Town | 25,012 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | SL 1967, c. 481 SL 1989(90), c. 921 GS 160A-101 | |
Cornelius | Town | 24,866 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1991(92), c. 852 GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 288 | |
Holly Springs | Town | 24,661 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 2003-73 | |
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. |
Kernersville | Town | 23,123 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1989, c. 381 GS 160A-101 | |
Mint Hill | Town | 22,722 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1971, c. 73 GS 160A-101 | |
Kinston | City | 21,677 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Partisan | SL 1987, c. 169 | |
Lumberton | City | 21,542 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1963, c. 115 SL 1965, c. 282 SL 1967, c. 237 SL 1971, c. 166 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 | |
Shelby | City | 20,323 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Primary | PL1939, c. 252 SL 1961, c. 416, 509 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290 | |
Carrboro | Town | 19,582 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1987, c. 476 | |
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. |
Elizabeth City | City | 18,683 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Majority | SL 2001-227 | |
Clemmons | Village | 18,627 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S/2 | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 437 | |
Morrisville | Town | 18,576 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1947, c. 776 SL 1975, c. 802 GS 160A-101 | Four commissioners are elected from residence districts, and two are elected at large. |
Lenoir | City | 18,228 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262 | |
Fuquay-Varina | Town | 17,937 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1915, c. 167 SL 1959, c. 774 | |
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. |
Morganton | City | 16,918 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 2014-12 SL 1975 c. 180 SL 1998-81 | |
Clayton | Town | 16,116 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1987(88), c. 983 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. |
Albemarle | Town | 15,903 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1979, c. 259 SL 1987(88), c. 881 GS 160A-101 SL 2015-253 | Four council members are elected from districts and three are elected at large. Albemarle holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
Roanoke Rapids | City | 15,754 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 34 | |
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 | |
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. |
Hope Mills | Town | 15,176 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1981, c. 650 SL 2016-66 | |
Reidsville | City | 14,520 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989(90) c. 957 SL 1993, c. 306 | Four council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Graham | City | 14,153 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1979, c. 339 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 | |
Mount Holly | City | 13,656 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 212 | |
Leland | Town | 13,527 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101 | |
Hendersonville | City | 13,137 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 874 | |
Pinehurst | Village | 13,124 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Mun. Bd. Control 1980 GS 160A-101 | |
Newton | City | 12,968 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989(90). c. 1042 GS 160A-101 | |
Lewisville | Town | 12,639 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1991, c. 116 | |
Southern Pines | Town | 12,334 | Council Manager | Council Members | 4 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Primary | SL 1981, c. 352 GS 160A-101 | |
Spring Lake | Town | 11,964 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 5 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1977, c. 742 GS 160A-101 | |
Harrisburg | Town | 11,526 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 111 GS 160A-101 | |
Tarboro | Town | 11,415 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 73 | |
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. |
Knightdale | Town | 11,401 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1927, c. 155 GS 160A-101 | |
Mebane | City | 11,393 | Council Manager | Council Members | 5 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 514 GS 160A-101 |