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
Walnut Cove Town 1,425 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 447
Rutherfordton Town 4,213 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 350 GS 160A-101
Carolina Beach Town 5,706 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1973, c. 376 SL 1981, c. 842
Granite Quarry Town 2,930 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-203 SL 2007-89
Orrum Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 993 SL 2017-58
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.
Stokesdale Town 5,047 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1989, c. 488 GS 160A-101
Momeyer Town 224 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 242 SL 1995, c. 212
Turkey Town 292 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 82
Morganton City 16,918 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 2014-12 SL 1975 c. 180 SL 1998-81
Fairview Town 3,324 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-428
Maggie Valley Town 1,150 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973(74), c. 1337 SL 1995(96), c. 558 GS 160A-101
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
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.
Dobbins Heights Town 866 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1983, c. 658
Brookford Town 382 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 109 GS 163-279
Chocowinity Town 820 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1959, c. 343 SL 2004-12
Haw River Town 2,298 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 234 SL 1973(74), c. 895 GS 160A-101
Woodland Town 809 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 136 GS 163-279
Lake Waccamaw Town 1,480 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 14 GS 160A-101
Lincolnton Town 10,486 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Partisan SL 1979, c. 341 SL 1981(82), c. 1134 SL 1983, c. 58 SL 2017, c. 62 Lincolnton holds municipal elections in even-numbered years (SL 2017-62).
Wrightsville Beach Town 2,477 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 611
Hookerton Town 409 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 253
Dortches Town 935 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1977, c. 358
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.
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
Landis Town 3,109 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 213 SL 1987, c. 13 SL 2003-126 GS 160A-101 The board of aldermen employ a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Falcon Town 258 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 318
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.
Sugar Mountain Village 198 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-242 SL 1985, c. 395
Red Oak Town 3,430 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 799 SL 1989(90), c. 1035
Fletcher Town 7,187 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Primary SL 1989, c. 44 GS 160A-101
Bunn Town 344 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 690
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
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.
Atkinson Town 299 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1921, c. 163 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-44
Marietta Town 175 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 111
Yanceyville Town 2,039 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 501 SL 2000-86
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
Cooleemee Town 960 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 424
Drexel Town 1,858 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 160A-101
Kill Devil Hills Town 6,683 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995(96), c. 735
Fontana Dam Town 22 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2011-110 GS 160A-101
Fallston Town 607 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 784 Although the town charter, SL 1973, c. 784, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Wilkesboro Town 3,413 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1889, c. 240 SL 1979, c. 645 Although the Wilkesboro charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Hendersonville City 13,137 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 874
King City 6,904 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 351 GS 160A-101
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.
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
Laurel Park Town 2,180 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2000-8
Hertford Town 2,143 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 586
Polkville Town 545 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 178 SL 1979, c. 266 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Belville Town 1,936 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 84 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Midland Town 3,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2000-91 GS 160A-101
Boiling Spring Lakes City 5,372 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 62
Forest Hills Village 365 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-345
Burnsville Town 1,693 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control 1922 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101 Changed to council-manager form of government August 6, 2021.
Waynesville Town 9,869 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1995, c. 126
Catawba Town 603 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 224 GS 160A-101
Aurora Town 520 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 256 GS 160A-101
Belwood Town 950 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1208 SL 1981, c. 114
Tobaccoville Village 2,441 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 232 The council employs a village administrator who supervises 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
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.
Pembroke Town 2,973 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 171 SL 1974, c. 1289 GS 160A-66, -101 GS 163-279 SL 1961, c. 97
Bolivia Town 143 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1961, c. 366
Leggett Town 60 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 4 SL 1998-32 GS 160A-101
Trent Woods Town 4,155 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 718 GS 163-279
Kittrell Town 467 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1885, c. 136 GS 163-279
Trenton Town 287 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 174 SL 1949, c. 879
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
Tar Heel Town 117 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 763
East Laurinburg Town 0 Council Manager Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 221 GS 160A-101 The Town of East Laurinburg was dissolved effective June 30, 2022.
Everetts Town 164 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 321 SL 1979, c. 82
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)

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