Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Termsort ascending Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Bailey Town 569 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 184
Red Oak Town 3,430 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 799 SL 1989(90), c. 1035
Cove City Town 399 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1957, c. 427 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Waynesville Town 9,869 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1995, c. 126
Parmele Town 278 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 60 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-125
Morven Town 511 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1947, c. 765 SL 2006-147
Stallings Town 13,831 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 758 GS 160A-101
Bostic Town 386 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1913, c. 263 Although the town charter, Pr. 1913, c. 263, styles the town governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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.
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.
Bakersville Town 464 Mayor Council Council Members 2 Elected 4 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 2014-56. SL 1955, c. 1291 SL 2005-43 SL 2014-56 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.Two board members are elected every two years. The person receiving the highest number of votes receives a four-year term; the second-highest vote getter receives a two-year term.
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
Webster Town 363 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1955, c. 423 SL 1957, c. 60 SL 1977, c. 171 Although the Webster town charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
Patterson Springs Town 622 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 129 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Mount Airy City 10,388 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL/DAL 4S Primary SL 2003-281 Four commissioners are elected from residence districts and one is elected at large.
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.
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.
Brevard City 7,609 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 415 SL 2007-65
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
Elon Town 9,419 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 109
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
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.
Jefferson Town 1,611 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 552 GS 160A-101
Peachland Town 437 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-328
Harrisburg Town 11,526 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 111 GS 160A-101
Cedar Rock Town 300 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-317
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
Sawmills Town 5,240 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1987, c. 648 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Rennert Town 383 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 300 SL 2001-3 Although the Rennert town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Jonesville Town 2,285 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-16 SL 2017-56 Jonesville municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
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
Weldon Town 1,655 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 83 SL 1965, c. 131 GS 160A-101
Unionville Town 5,929 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-151 SL 1999-90
Stantonsburg Town 784 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1212 GS 160A-101
Broadway Town 1,229 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1947, c. 548 SL 1997-416 SL 1999-230 SL 2000-39
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.
Bath Town 249 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2006-88 PL 1941, c. 175 SL 1959, c. 189 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Rhodhiss Town 1,070 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1961, c. 471 SL 1985, c. 94
Kannapolis City 42,625 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 191 GS 160A-101
Wendell Town 5,845 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 107
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
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
Chadbourn Town 1,856 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 895 SL 2007-271
Murphy Town 1,627 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1979, c. 261 GS 160A-101
Maxton Town 2,426 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 731 GS 160A-101
Lenoir City 18,228 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262
Erwin Town 4,405 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1967, c. 12 GS 160A-101
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
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.
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
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101
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.
Eureka Town 197 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 459 SL 1981, c. 70
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
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.
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.
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.
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
Denton Town 1,636 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 497 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-42
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.
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.
McAdenville Town 651 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 GS 163-279, -290 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
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
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.
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
McDonald Town 113 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2014-24 Pr. 1911, c. 443 GS 163-279 SL 2014-24
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
Stokesdale Town 5,047 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1989, c. 488 GS 160A-101
Burgaw Town 3,872 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-247
Fairmont Town 2,663 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL,1973, c. 288 GS 160A-101
Belhaven Town 1,688 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 714 Although the town charter as enacted in SL 1969, c. 714, styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town itself actually styles it as the town council.
Roanoke Rapids City 15,754 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 34
Robbins Town 1,097 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1935, c. 63 SL 1979, c. 230 160A-101
King City 6,904 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 351 GS 160A-101

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