Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Namesort descending Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
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.
Carrboro Town 19,582 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 476
Carthage Town 2,205 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-239 Although the town chater, SL 1999-239, styles the town governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
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.
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
Castalia Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 952
Caswell Beach Town 398 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 293 GS 160A-101
Catawba Town 603 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 224 GS 160A-101
Cedar Point Town 1,279 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1005 Although the town charter, SL 1987(88), c. 1005, styles the governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners. There will be a change from 4 to 5 governing board members in the 2021 election.
Cedar Rock Town 300 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-317
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.
Chadbourn Town 1,856 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 895 SL 2007-271
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
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.
Cherryville City 5,760 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 581
Chimney Rock Village 113 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 444
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.
Chocowinity Town 820 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1959, c. 343 SL 2004-12
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
Clarkton Town 837 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 440 SL 1985, c. 36
Clayton Town 16,116 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 983 GS 160A-101
Clemmons Village 18,627 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 437
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
Clinton Town 8,639 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1985(86), c. 943 SL 1989(90), c. 887
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.
Coats Town 2,112 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 362 SL 1969, c. 160 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Cofield Village 413 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1969, c. 587
Colerain Town 204 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 290 GS 163-290
Columbia Town 891 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 GS 163-290 PL 1941, c. 423
Columbus Town 999 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 46 Three council members are elected every two years. The person receiving the highest vote receives a four-year term; the next two finishers receive two-year terms.
Como Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1967, c. 920 Although the town charter, SL 1967, c. 920, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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.
Conetoe Town 294 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1887, c. 154 SL 1957, c. 278 SL 1959, c. 63
Connelly Springs Town 1,669 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 528 SL 1993, c. 37
Conover City 8,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 78 GS 160A-101
Conway Town 836 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 161 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Cooleemee Town 960 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 424
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
Cove City Town 399 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1957, c. 427 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Cramerton Town 4,165 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 2013 178 SL 1967, c. 1061 SL 2013-178
Creedmoor City 4,124 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 826 GS 160A-101
Creswell Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 276 SL 1993(94), c. 626 GS 163-279
Crossnore Town 192 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected At pleasure of board AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1967, c. 832 Three aldermen are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the third finisher receives a two-year term.
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 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
Denton Town 1,636 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 497 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-42
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
Dobbins Heights Town 866 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1983, c. 658
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.
Dortches Town 935 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1977, c. 358
Dover Town 401 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 375 GS 163-290
Drexel Town 1,858 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 160A-101
Dublin Town 338 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 509
Duck Town 369 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2001-394.
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
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.
Earl Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 787 Although incorporated as \\\"Earl Station\\\" the town now goes by \\\"Earl\\\". In addition, although the town charter refers to the governing board as board of commissioners, the board in fact is referred to as the town council.
East Arcadia Town 487 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973(74), c. 954
East Bend Town 612 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 611 Pr. 1887, c. 144 SL 1985, c. 104 SL 2017-56 Three board members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the most votes receive four-year terms; the person with the third-highest vote total receives a two-year term. East Bend municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
East Laurinburg Town 0 Council Manager Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 221 GS 160A-101 The Town of East Laurinburg was dissolved effective June 30, 2022.
East Spencer Town 1,534 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 374 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Eastover Town 3,628 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-267
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
Edenton Town 5,004 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1985(86), c. 815 Four 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
Elizabethtown Town 3,583 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1895, c. 156 SL 2004-34
Elk Park Town 452 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1951, c. 248 Pr. 1889, c. 256 Although the original charter of the town, Pr. 1889, c. 256, and the 1951 act amending the charter, both styled the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
Elkin Town 4,001 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 740 SL 2014-35 Elkin holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Ellenboro Town 873 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-310 SL 1983, c. 425 Although the town charter, SL 1983, c. 425, and SL 2007-310 each style the governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
Ellerbe Town 1,054 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 310 Pr. 1931, c. 24
Elm City Town 1,298 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 152
Elon Town 9,419 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 109
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
Enfield Town 2,532 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 479 Four commissioners are elected from districts and one is elected at large. The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.

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