Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Stylesort ascending Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Cerro Gordo Town 207 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 1044 Although the town charter, SL 1973, c. 1044, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Lucama Town 1,108 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 117
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
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.
Southern Pines Town 12,334 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 352 GS 160A-101
Knightdale Town 11,401 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1927, c. 155 GS 160A-101
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Brookford Town 382 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 109 GS 163-279
Murphy Town 1,627 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1979, c. 261 GS 160A-101
Roxobel Town 240 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 439
Erwin Town 4,405 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1967, c. 12 GS 160A-101
Bayboro Town 1,263 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 110 GS 160A-101
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
Minnesott Beach Town 440 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 890
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Rich Square Town 958 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1883, c. 128 GS 160A-66
Tar Heel Town 117 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 763
Wendell Town 5,845 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 107
Chadbourn Town 1,856 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 895 SL 2007-271
Lumber Bridge Town 94 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 99 SL 1967, c. 226 SL 1995(96), c. 570 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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
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
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
Kure Beach Town 2,012 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1947, c. 906 SL 1975, c. 484 GS 160A-101
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101
Brunswick Town 1,119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 197
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
Rural Hall Town 2,937 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973(74), c. 1100 GS 160A-101
Eureka Town 197 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 459 SL 1981, c. 70
Bear Grass Town 73 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1909, c. 74 SL 1961, c. 1128
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 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
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
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.
Tarboro Town 11,415 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 73
Wentworth Town 2,807 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-322
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
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
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.
Sparta Town 1,770 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Mun. Bd. Control 1924
LaGrange Town 2,873 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 163-290 SL 1979(80), c. 1151 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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.
Bryson City Town 1,424 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 207 SL 1955, c. 284 GS 160A-101
Nashville Town 5,352 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 320 SL 1973, c. 343 GS 160A-101 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Ruth Town 440 Mayor Council Commissioners 2 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1939, c. 53
Everetts Town 164 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 321 SL 1979, c. 82
Beaufort Town 4,039 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 435 Pr. 1919, c. 103 GS 160A-101
Davidson Town 10,944 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1879, c. 32 SL 1957, c. 36
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
Taylorsville Town 2,098 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1887, c. 86 PL 1939, c. 312 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
Macclesfield Town 471 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 1124 GS 160A-101
Hayesville Town 311 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality PL 1913, c. 468 SL 1977, c. 210 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.
Pilot Mountain Town 1,477 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 28 GS 160A-101 2012-47 Pilot Mountain municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Pine Knoll Shores Town 1,339 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 265 GS 160A-101
Speed Town 80 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 169 SL 1957, c. 279
Lake Lure Town 1,192 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 194
Gaston Town 1,152 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1949, c. 1153 GS 160A-66
Bunn Town 344 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 690
Navassa Town 1,505 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 2001-325 SL 1977, c. 77 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Rutherford College Town 1,341 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 452 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Fair Bluff Town 951 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1913, c. 25 SL 1983(84), c. 1007
Beech Mountain Town 320 Council Manager Council Members 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 246
Denton Town 1,636 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 497 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-42
Mocksville Town 5,051 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 74 GS 160A-101
Kernersville Town 23,123 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 381 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
Taylortown Town 722 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 601
West Jefferson Town 1,299 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 326 Although the West Jefferson charter states that the town operates under the mayor-council form of government, the town actually operates under the council-manager form.
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Hemby Bridge Town 1,520 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-143 SL 2007-101
Pine Level Town 1,700 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 425 SL 1957, c. 50
Burgaw Town 3,872 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-247
Rutherfordton Town 4,213 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 350 GS 160A-101
Fairmont Town 2,663 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL,1973, c. 288 GS 160A-101

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