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
Star Town 876 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 448 SL 2017-12 Star municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Benson Town 3,311 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1999-91 GS 160A-101 Three council members are elected from districts, and three are elected at large. In the election of at large members, each voter may only vote for one candidate.
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
Indian Trail Town 33,518 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-257
Minnesott Beach Town 440 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 890
Seaboard Town 632 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pub. 1877, c. 208 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290
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.
Alliance Town 776 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1965, c. 760
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
Hamilton Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1945, c. 302
Rockwell Town 2,108 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 17 SL 1967, c. 37 GS 163-279
Wentworth Town 2,807 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-322
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
Pink Hill Town 552 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1955, c. 760 SL 2011-46 Pr. 1915, c. 31 Pr. 1933, c. 221
Calabash Town 1,786 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1999-16 SL 1973, c. 391 SL 1989, c. 593 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Eureka Town 197 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 459 SL 1981, c. 70
Newton Grove Town 569 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1935, c. 163 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
Bermuda Run Town 1,725 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Primary SL 1999-94 GS 160A-101
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 GS 160A-101
Jackson Town 513 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 286
Mint Hill Town 22,722 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 73 GS 160A-101
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
Andrews Town 1,781 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 135 SL 1959, c. 193 Pr. 1930, c. 187 SL 1977, c. 209 GS 160A-101 The town board employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Hamlet Town 6,495 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 506 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
Macclesfield Town 471 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 1124 GS 160A-101
Franklin Town 3,845 Mayor Council Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 26 Pr. 1935, c. 5 GS 160A-66, -101 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
Pittsboro Town 3,743 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 348
Calypso Town 538 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 264
Everetts Town 164 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 321 SL 1979, c. 82
Norlina Town 1,118 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 1020 SL 1969, c. 95
Stedman Town 1,028 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 67 SL 1953, c. 409
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
Sedalia Town 623 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-444
Selma Town 6,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 934
Angier Town 4,350 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 2008-63
Harmony Town 531 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
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
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.
Franklinton Town 2,023 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 160 SL 2007-138
Lake Lure Town 1,192 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 194
Pleasant Garden Town 4,489 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1997-344 SL 2009-167 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Cameron Town 285 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Laws 1876-77, c. 14 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Fair Bluff Town 951 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1913, c. 25 SL 1983(84), c. 1007
Norman Town 138 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. Ex. 1913, c. 74 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.
Stem Town 463 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 183
Bethania Town 328 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 74
Denton Town 1,636 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 497 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-42
Jamestown Town 3,382 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 370
Mocksville Town 5,051 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 74 GS 160A-101
Momeyer Town 224 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 242 SL 1995, c. 212
Seven Devils Town 192 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 205 GS 160A-101 Three council members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the person finishing third receives a two-year term.
Ansonville Town 631 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2003-190 Mun. Bd. Control 1928 GS 163-290
Harrells Town 202 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1969, c. 466 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of alderman.
Madison Town 2,246 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 289 SL 2004-54
Ronda Town 417 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101 S.C. 2019-27 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Elections are held in even-numbered years. (S.L. 2019-73)
Franklinville Town 1,164 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 1017
Plymouth Town 3,878 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years D 2 Plurality SL 1995, c. 325 SL 2001-51
Candor Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1908, c. 48 SL 1971, c. 576
Fairmont Town 2,663 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL,1973, c. 288 GS 160A-101
North Topsail Beach Town 743 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 100
Stokesdale Town 5,047 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1989, c. 488 GS 160A-101
Bethel Town 1,577 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 609 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1873-74, c. 20
Dillsboro Town 232 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1889, c. 177 Pr. 1907, c. 274 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Jamesville Town 491 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1951, c. 232 GS 160A-101
Seven Springs Town 110 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 21
Apex Town 37,476 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 356 GS 160A-101
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.
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.
Maggie Valley Town 1,150 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973(74), c. 1337 SL 1995(96), c. 558 GS 160A-101
Roper Town 611 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 24 GS 160A-101 SL 2008-104 Although the Roper charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Whitakers Town 744 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 996 SL 1979, c. 311 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
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.
Lake Santeetlah Town 45 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1012 GS 160A-101 The mayor is elected by and from the board for a two-year term but serves at the board\'s pleasure and may be removed at any time during the term.

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