Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selectionsort descending Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Wesley Chapel Village 7,463 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-43 The town board employs an administrator to supervise town operations.
Marion City 7,838 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 101
Boone Town 17,122 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality Pr. 1931, c. 187 SL 1969, c. 905 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1907, c. 107 Three board members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the third-highest vote getter receives a two-year term.
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.
Highlands Town 924 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1991, c. 519 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
St. James Town 3,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-241 GS 160A-101
Lattimore Town 488 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1899, c. 52 Although the original town charter styled the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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.
Sandy Creek Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1007
Red Cross Town 742 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-56. SL 2015-253 Red Cross municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Parkton Town 436 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1945, c. 803 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
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.
Troutman Town 2,383 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 144
Mars Hill Town 1,869 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 890
Boonville Town 1,222 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c 363 SL 1981(82), c. 1143 SL 2017-56 Boonville municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Eastover Town 3,628 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-267
Hildebran Town 2,023 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1899, c. 212 SL 1973, c. 433 SL 1993, c. 238 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Staley Town 393 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 386 GS 163-279
Laurel Park Town 2,180 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2000-8
Bailey Town 569 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 184
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.
Goldston Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 108 SL 1957, c. 704 GS 160A-101
Sandyfield Town 447 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 729
Red Oak Town 3,430 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 799 SL 1989(90), c. 1035
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
Whispering Pines Village 2,928 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2008-105
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.
Marshall Town 872 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 165 Pr. 1913, c. 232 Pr. 1923, c. 35 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.
Hillsborough Town 6,087 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 351 GS 160A-101
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.
Graham City 14,153 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 339 GS 160A-101
Red Springs Town 3,428 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 1252 SL 1951, c. 344 SL 1957, c. 457 SL 1969, c. 212
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.
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.
Tryon Town 1,646 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 441 GS 160A-101
Marshville Town 2,402 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 313 SL 1973, c. 652 SL 2000-62 SL 2010-21 The council 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
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.
Stanfield Town 1,486 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1957, c. 485 SL 2015-253 Stanfield municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
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
Grandfather Village Village 25 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 419
Saratoga Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 462 SL 1977, c. 479 GS 163-290
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.
Peachland Town 437 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-328
Mount Gilead Town 1,181 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 133 SL 1957, c. 163 GS 160A-101
White Lake Town 802 Mayor Council Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-150
Turkey Town 292 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 82
Mount Pleasant Town 1,652 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 77 Pr. 1931, c. 148
Marvin Village 5,579 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 641 The council employs a village administrator to supervise all employees.
Bridgeton Town 454 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 621
Vanceboro Town 1,005 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1929, c. 26
Hoffman Town 588 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1002
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
Banner Elk Town 1,028 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 124 GS 160A-101
Connelly Springs Town 1,669 Mayor Council Aldermen 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 528 SL 1993, c. 37
Granite Falls Town 4,722 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 382
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.
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
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.
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
Whiteville City 5,394 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1018 GS 160A-101
Unionville Town 5,929 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-151 SL 1999-90
Murfreesboro Town 2,835 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983, c. 445 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Matthews Town 27,198 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1879, c. 60 Pr. 1911, c. 172 SL 1951, c. 179 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
Vandemere Town 254 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 311 GS 163-279
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
Holden Beach Town 575 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101
Stantonsburg Town 784 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1212 GS 160A-101
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101
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.

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