Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Stylesort ascending Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Garysburg Town 1,057 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1985, c. 56 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
Ruth Town 440 Mayor Council Commissioners 2 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1939, c. 53
Winterville Town 9,269 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1993(94), c. 603
Princeville Town 2,082 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years D 4 Plurality SL 1977, c. 688 GS 160A-101
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.
Walnut Cove Town 1,425 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 447
Oak Ridge Town 6,185 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-113 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Kenly Town 1,339 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 14
Bladenboro Town 1,750 Mayor Council Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1974, c. 1270 GS 160A-101
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
Macclesfield Town 471 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 1124 GS 160A-101
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.
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.
Sparta Town 1,770 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Mun. Bd. Control 1924
Askewville Town 241 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 1153
Eastover Town 3,628 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-267
Speed Town 80 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 169 SL 1957, c. 279
Lake Lure Town 1,192 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 194
Gaston Town 1,152 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1949, c. 1153 GS 160A-66
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.
Rutherford College Town 1,341 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 452 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Winton Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 674 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises 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
Cary Town 135,234 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Majority SL 2005-117 Four council members are elected from districts and two are elected at large.
Oakboro Town 1,859 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 51 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Oakboro municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Mocksville Town 5,051 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 74 GS 160A-101
Kernersville Town 23,123 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 381 GS 160A-101
Blowing Rock Town 1,241 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 419 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
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Hemby Bridge Town 1,520 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-143 SL 2007-101
Henderson City 15,368 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years AL/D 2 Majority SL 1967, c. 780 SL 1997-62 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from districts, and four are elected at large.
Eden City 15,527 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 967 SL 1969, c. 781 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
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,
Gastonia City 71,741 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 557 SL 1993, c. 136 GS 160A-101
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.
Raeford City 4,611 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 371 GS 160A-101
Hendersonville City 13,137 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 874
Raleigh City 403,892 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Majority SL 1949, c. 1184 SL 1957, c. 121 SL 1973, c. 319 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Monroe City 32,797 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Majority SL 2000-35
King City 6,904 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 351 GS 160A-101
Thomasville City 26,757 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1981, c. 211
Elizabeth City City 18,683 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years D 2 Majority SL 2001-227
Kings Mountain City 10,296 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 684 SL 1951, c. 836 SL 1969, c. 204 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Boiling Spring Lakes City 5,372 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 62
Hickory City 40,010 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Primary SL 1961, c. 323 SL 1967, c. 404
Conover City 8,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 78 GS 160A-101
Randleman City 4,113 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL/DAL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1905, c. 209 SL 1959, c. 701 Four aldermen are elected from residence districts and serve four-year staggered terms. One is elected at large and serves a two-year term.
Washington City 9,744 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1995 (96) c. 736
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.
Salisbury City 33,662 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1987, c. 205
High Shoals City 696 Mayor Council Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 317 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.
Oxford City 8,461 Council Manager Commissioners 7 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 971
Marion City 7,838 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 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
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
Trinity City 6,614 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1997-44 GS 160A-101
Laurinburg City 15,962 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 586 SL 1995, c. 65 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from districts and one is elected at large.
Graham City 14,153 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 339 GS 160A-101
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.
Creedmoor City 4,124 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 826 GS 160A-101
Reidsville City 14,520 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1989(90) c. 957 SL 1993, c. 306 Four council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Mount Airy City 10,388 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL/DAL 4S Primary SL 2003-281 Four commissioners are elected from residence districts and one is elected at large.
Brevard City 7,609 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 415 SL 2007-65
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
Lenoir City 18,228 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262
Statesville City 24,532 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Majority SL 1977, c. 289 SL 1985, c. 570 GS 160A-101 Six council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
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.
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.
Greensboro City 269,666 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Primary SL 1959, c. 1137 SL 1973, c. 213 GS 160A-101 Five council members are elected from districts, and three are elected at large.
Cherryville City 5,760 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 581
New Bern City 29,524 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 4 Years D 4 Majority SL 1985, c. 64 SL 1957, c. 1281 SL 1983, c. 174 GS 160A-101
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.

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