Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem.sort ascending Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Wendell Town 5,845 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 107
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.
Mayodan Town 2,478 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 501 GS 160A-101
Eureka Town 197 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 459 SL 1981, c. 70
Hillsborough Town 6,087 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 351 GS 160A-101
Wingate Town 3,491 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 55 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Candor Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1908, c. 48 SL 1971, c. 576
Raeford City 4,611 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 371 GS 160A-101
Jamesville Town 491 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1951, c. 232 GS 160A-101
Roanoke Rapids City 15,754 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 34
Ansonville Town 631 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2003-190 Mun. Bd. Control 1928 GS 163-290
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
Columbia Town 891 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 GS 163-290 PL 1941, c. 423
Franklinville Town 1,164 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 1017
Troutman Town 2,383 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 144
Lewiston Woodville Town 549 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL/DAL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 266 Four council members are elected from residence districts and one is elected at large.
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
Wallace Town 3,880 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 94 SL 1997-321
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
Ocean Isle Beach Town 550 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1959, c. 887 SL 1965, c. 756 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
Sparta Town 1,770 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Mun. Bd. Control 1924
Wentworth Town 2,807 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-322
Brevard City 7,609 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 415 SL 2007-65
Pinebluff Town 1,337 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 243 GS 160A-101
Maysville Town 1,019 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4 Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1897, c. 171 GS 163-279
Hobgood Town 348 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 160 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all employees. The 1982 act of the General Assembly calls for two-year terms of the town board, but in fact board members are elected to four-year staggered terms.
Stedman Town 1,028 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 67 SL 1953, c. 409
Misenheimer Village 728 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-268 SL 2004-19. SL 2015-253 Misenheimer municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Jefferson Town 1,611 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 552 GS 160A-101
Robbins Town 1,097 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1935, c. 63 SL 1979, c. 230 160A-101
Apex Town 37,476 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 356 GS 160A-101
Troy Town 3,189 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 153 Pr. 1913, c. 342 SL 1957, c. 125 GS 160A-101 SL 2017-12 Troy municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
New London Town 600 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 91 SL 2001-131 SL 2015-253 New London municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
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
Wallburg Town 3,047 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2004-37.
Beulaville Town 1,296 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 136 GS 160A-101
Old Fort Town 908 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 271
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Speed Town 80 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 169 SL 1957, c. 279
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
Hoffman Town 588 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1002
Stem Town 463 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 183
Winterville Town 9,269 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1993(94), c. 603
Cape Carteret Town 1,917 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1959, c. 727 SL 1963, c. 929 SL 1969, c. 284 GS 160A-101
Ramseur Town 1,692 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary Pr. 1895, c. 308 SL 1957, c. 108 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Mocksville Town 5,051 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 74 GS 160A-101
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.
Taylortown Town 722 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 601
Arapahoe Town 556 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1969, c. 200
Morehead City Town 8,661 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 879 GS 160A-101
Fuquay-Varina Town 17,937 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 167 SL 1959, c. 774
Banner Elk Town 1,028 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 124 GS 160A-101
Newland Town 698 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1951, c. 222 Pr. 1913, c. 275 GS 160A-101 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Denton Town 1,636 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 497 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-42
Oriental Town 900 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1993, c. 4 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1899, c. 184 SL 1991(92), c. 878
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
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.
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
Pinetops Town 1,374 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1921, c. 64 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Holden Beach Town 575 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101
Winton Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 674 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Randleman City 4,113 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL/DAL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1905, c. 209 SL 1959, c. 701 Four aldermen are elected from residence districts and serve four-year staggered terms. One is elected at large and serves a two-year term.
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
Robersonville Town 1,488 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 59 SL 1951, c. 48 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from two-member districts, and one is elected at large.
Lake Park Village 3,422 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 620
Gamewell Town 4,051 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 31 Although the town charter, SL 1981, c. 31, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Newport Town 4,150 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1927, c. 225 SL 1969, c. 495 GS 160A-101
Liberty Town 2,656 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 579
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
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.
Walnut Creek Village 835 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 687 The council employs a village administrator who supervises all departments.

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