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
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.
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.
Chocowinity Town 820 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1959, c. 343 SL 2004-12
Robbinsville Town 620 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 190 SL 1981, c. 194 Although the Robbinsville charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Dortches Town 935 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1977, c. 358
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.
Norman Town 138 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. Ex. 1913, c. 74 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Dunn City 9,263 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years D 4 Majority SL 1969, c. 818 SL 1971, c. 104 GS 160A-101
Burlington City 49,963 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4 Primary SL 1961, c. 119 GS 160A-101 SL 2014-74
Gatesville Town 321 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2009-465 Pr. 1923, c. 88 SL 2009-17 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
High Point City 104,371 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4 Primary SL 1991, c. 40 GS 160A-101 SL 2006-171 SL 1979, c. 501 SL 2013-261 Six council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. Municipal elections reverted to being held in odd-numbered years in 2017.
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.
Maysville Town 1,019 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4 Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1897, c. 171 GS 163-279
Princeville Town 2,082 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years D 4 Plurality SL 1977, c. 688 GS 160A-101
Goldsboro City 36,437 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years D 4 Primary SL 1973, c. 69 SL 1975, c. 245 SL 1985(86), c. 888 GS 160A-101
Andrews Town 1,781 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 135 SL 1959, c. 193 Pr. 1930, c. 187 SL 1977, c. 209 GS 160A-101 The town board employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Proctorville Town 117 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1963, c. 306 GS 160A-101 PL 1913, c. 369 SL 2014 25
Concord City 79,066 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL/DAL 4 Plurality SL 1985(86), c. 861 GS 160A-101 Six council members are elected from residence districts, and one is elected at large.
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
Ansonville Town 631 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2003-190 Mun. Bd. Control 1928 GS 163-290
Old Fort Town 908 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 271
Biltmore Forest Town 1,343 Council Manager Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 32 GS 160A-66 S.L. 2019-27 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all town departments. The jurisdiction holds municipal elections in even-numbered years (S.L. 2019-27)
Orrum Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 993 SL 2017-58
Grantsboro Town 688 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1997-446 SL 2011-83
Winston-Salem City 229,617 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years D 4 Partisan Pr. 1927, c. 232 Pr. 1933, c. 60 SL 1947, c. 601 SL 1965, c. 53 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-141 Winston-Salem municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Raynham Town 72 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1975, c. 388 SL 1977, c. 16 GS 160A-101 SL 2017, c. 58
Taylorsville Town 2,098 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1887, c. 86 PL 1939, c. 312 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
Cove City Town 399 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1957, c. 427 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Elm City Town 1,298 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 152
Spencer City 3,267 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 37 PL 1939, c. 222 SL 1951, c. 325 SL 1957, c. 870 GS 160A-101,
Hot Springs Town 560 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1929, c. 210 GS 163-279
Walstonburg Town 219 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 45
Greenville City 84,554 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 272 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts and one at large.
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.
Mount Olive Town 4,589 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 476 Pr. 1905, c. 201 SL 1979(80),c.1303 GS 160A-101 Four commissioners are elected from districts and one is elected at large.
Spencer Mountain Town 37 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 473 Although the Spencer Mountain charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Woodland Town 809 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 136 GS 163-279
Love Valley Town 90 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Atlantic Beach Town 1,495 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1937, c. 433 GS 160A-101 Although the town charter refers to the governing board as the board of commissioners, in fact the town refers to it as the town council.
Aulander Town 895 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1933, c. 95 SL 1967, c. 20 GS 163-290, PL 1939, c. 288
Kittrell Town 467 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1885, c. 136 GS 163-279
Mount Pleasant Town 1,652 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 77 Pr. 1931, c. 148
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
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
Huntersville Town 46,773 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1885, c. 46 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
Grimesland Town 441 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 222 SL 1957, c. 1153
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.
Washington City 9,744 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1995 (96) c. 736
Spring Lake Town 11,964 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 742 GS 160A-101
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
Salisbury City 33,662 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 205
Minnesott Beach Town 440 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 890
Washington Park Town 451 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1949, c. 48
Rich Square Town 958 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1883, c. 128 GS 160A-66
Halifax Town 234 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. Act 1786, c. 35
Bolivia Town 143 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1961, c. 366
Trent Woods Town 4,155 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 718 GS 163-279
Mint Hill Town 22,722 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 73 GS 160A-101
Richfield Town 613 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1066 SL 1961, c. 527 GS 163-279 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Richfield municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Hamilton Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1945, c. 302
Trenton Town 287 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 174 SL 1949, c. 879
Everetts Town 164 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 321 SL 1979, c. 82
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
Charlotte City 731,424 Council Manager Council Members 11 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Partisan SL 2000-26 Seven council members are elected from districts and four are elected at large.
Richlands Town 1,520 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 47 SL 1949, c. 476
Staley Town 393 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 386 GS 163-279
Jamestown Town 3,382 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 370
River Bend Town 3,119 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control 1981 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
Harmony Town 531 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Weaverville Town 3,120 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 335 GS 160A-101
Harrells Town 202 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1969, c. 466 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of alderman.
Pine Level Town 1,700 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 425 SL 1957, c. 50
Lake Santeetlah Town 45 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1012 GS 160A-101 The mayor is elected by and from the board for a two-year term but serves at the board\'s pleasure and may be removed at any time during the term.

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