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
Pine Knoll Shores Town 1,339 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 265 GS 160A-101
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
Star Town 876 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 448 SL 2017-12 Star municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
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
Midway Town 4,679 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2006-37.
Indian Beach Town 112 Council Manager Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 513 GS 160A-101
Yadkinville Town 2,959 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1885, c. 10 SL 1979, c. 280 GS 160A-101 The town has adopted the council-manager system by ordinance.
Roanoke Rapids City 15,754 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 34
Bayboro Town 1,263 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 110 GS 160A-101
Kinston City 21,677 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Partisan SL 1987, c. 169
Four Oaks Town 1,921 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 65 GS 160A-101
Black Creek Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1870, c. 104 SL 1951, c. 485 GS 160A-101
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
Glen Alpine Town 1,517 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 61 SL 1989, c. 131
Varnamtown Town 541 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1003
Seagrove Town 228 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 270
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.
Love Valley Town 90 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Halifax Town 234 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. Act 1786, c. 35
Washington Park Town 451 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1949, c. 48
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.
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.
Whitsett Town 590 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 684
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.
Raeford City 4,611 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 371 GS 160A-101
Mills River Town 6,802 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL/DAL 4S Plurality SL 2003-242 Three council members are elected from residence districts, and two are elected at large.
Archer Lodge Town 4,292 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-466
Indian Trail Town 33,518 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-257
Robbins Town 1,097 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1935, c. 63 SL 1979, c. 230 160A-101
Bear Grass Town 73 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1909, c. 74 SL 1961, c. 1128
Foxfire Village Village 902 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 237
Teachey Town 376 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1957, c. 253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who also acts as clerk.
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.
Black Mountain Town 7,848 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1951, c. 747 SL 1969, c. 1034 GS 160A-101 SL 2019-27 Elections are held in even numbered years (SL 2019-27)
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.
Vass Town 720 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c 407 SL 1953, c. 817 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Sedalia Town 623 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-444
Brunswick Town 1,119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 197
Old Fort Town 908 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 271
Lowell City 3,526 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 111
Hamilton Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1945, c. 302
Faison Town 961 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 378
Sparta Town 1,770 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Mun. Bd. Control 1924
Pinebluff Town 1,337 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 243 GS 160A-101
Stedman Town 1,028 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 67 SL 1953, c. 409
Jackson Town 513 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 286
Youngsville Town 1,157 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality PL 1874-75, c. 111 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Zebulon Town 4,433 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 386 GS 160A-101
Taylortown Town 722 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 601
Conover City 8,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 78 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
Morehead City Town 8,661 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 879 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.
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
Lucama Town 1,108 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 117
Hamlet Town 6,495 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 506 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
Waxhaw Town 9,859 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1919, c. 57 PL 1941, c. 255 GS 160A-101
Faith Town 807 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 159 SL 1979(80), c. 1111
Speed Town 80 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 169 SL 1957, c. 279
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.
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.
Williamston Town 5,511 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 129 SL 1991, c. 374 GS 160A-101 Four commissioners are elected from districts and one is elected at large. The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Stem Town 463 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 183
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
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.
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.
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.
Beech Mountain Town 320 Council Manager Council Members 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 246
Knightdale Town 11,401 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1927, c. 155 GS 160A-101
Franklinton Town 2,023 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 160 SL 2007-138
Dover Town 401 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 375 GS 163-290
Blowing Rock Town 1,241 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 419 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
Goldston Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 108 SL 1957, c. 704 GS 160A-101
Wade Town 556 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1913, c. 408 SL 1969, c. 89

Pages