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 Selection Board Termsort ascending Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
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.
Salemburg Town 435 Mayor Council Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 104 SL 1993(94), c. 703
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101
Granite Quarry Town 2,930 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-203 SL 2007-89
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
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
Topsail Beach Town 368 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, cc. 67, 284 SL 1977, c. 272 SL 1989, c. 153
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.
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
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.
Spring Hope Town 1,320 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 207 SL 1973, c. 40 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1889, c. 55
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
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
Holden Beach Town 575 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control 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
Wendell Town 5,845 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 107
Pineville Town 7,479 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 296 G.S. 160A-101 (2015) The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Maxton Town 2,426 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 731 GS 160A-101
Newton City 12,968 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90). c. 1042 GS 160A-101
Holly Ridge Town 1,268 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 87 GS 160A-101
Holly Springs Town 24,661 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 2003-73
Saluda City 713 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1933, c. 123 The board of commissioners employs a city administrator to supervise all departments.
Wentworth Town 2,807 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-322
Drexel Town 1,858 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 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
Spruce Pine Town 2,175 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 335 SL 1995(96), c. 663 GS 160A-101
Clayton Town 16,116 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 983 GS 160A-101
Mayodan Town 2,478 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 501 GS 160A-101
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.
Hookerton Town 409 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 253
Sandy Creek Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1007
Greenlevel Town 2,100 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 942 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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
Rocky Mount City 57,477 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years D 4S Majority SL 2003-327
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.
Trinity City 6,614 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1997-44 GS 160A-101
Beaufort Town 4,039 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 435 Pr. 1919, c. 103 GS 160A-101
Pittsboro Town 3,743 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 348
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
Sandyfield Town 447 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 729
Lexington City 18,931 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 906 SL 1987, c. 64 Six council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Farmville Town 4,654 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 406 GS 160A-101
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.
Troutman Town 2,383 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 144
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.
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
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.
North Topsail Beach Town 743 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 100
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.
Liberty Town 2,656 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 579
Burgaw Town 3,872 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-247
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)
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.
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.
Stallings Town 13,831 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 758 GS 160A-101
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
North Wilkesboro Town 4,245 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 263
Hudson Town 3,776 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 239 SL 1967, c. 322 GS 160A-101
Grifton Town 2,617 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 480 GS 160A-101
Flat Rock Village 3,114 Mayor Council Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Primary SL 1995, c. 48
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.
Forest City Town 7,476 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 209 GS 160A-101
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
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.
Belmont City 10,076 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1921, c. 22 Pr. 1935, c. 161 SL 1947, c. 125 SL 1969, c. 930 GS 160A-101 SC 2017, c. 48
Valdese Town 4,490 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 847 SL 2000-28
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.
Aberdeen Town 6,350 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1975, c. 147 The mayor term for the 2019 election will be 2 years. Beginning in 2021, the mayor will be elected for a term of 4 years.
Northwest City 735 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 222
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.
Lillington Town 3,194 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 252 SL 1959, c. 901 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
Fletcher Town 7,187 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Primary SL 1989, c. 44 GS 160A-101

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