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 Term Election Methodsort ascending Statutory Citations Notes
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
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.
Gamewell Town 4,051 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 31 Although the town charter, SL 1981, c. 31, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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
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
Salemburg Town 435 Mayor Council Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 104 SL 1993(94), c. 703
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.
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.
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101
Kannapolis City 42,625 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 191 GS 160A-101
Washington City 9,744 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1995 (96) c. 736
Orrum Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 993 SL 2017-58
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
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
Hassell Town 84 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 96 SL 1965, c. 279
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
Bayboro Town 1,263 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 110 GS 160A-101
Garland Town 625 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 393
Spring Lake Town 11,964 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 742 GS 160A-101
Falcon Town 258 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 318
Maxton Town 2,426 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 731 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
Yanceyville Town 2,039 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 501 SL 2000-86
Ranlo Town 3,434 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 776
Dover Town 401 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 375 GS 163-290
Kelford Town 251 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 163 GS 160A-101
Washington Park Town 451 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1949, c. 48
Ossipee Town 543 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-137.
Clarkton Town 837 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 440 SL 1985, c. 36
Brookford Town 382 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 109 GS 163-279
Havelock Town 20,735 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1959, c. 952 SL 1977, c. 152 SL 1995(96), c. 619 SL 1999-126 GS 160A-66
Trent Woods Town 4,155 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1959, c. 718 GS 163-279
Bear Grass Town 73 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1909, c. 74 SL 1961, c. 1128
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101
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
Falkland Town 96 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1947, c. 1059 SL 1985(86), c. 832
Mayodan Town 2,478 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 501 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.
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.
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
Drexel Town 1,858 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 24 GS 160A-66 160A-101
Lewiston Woodville Town 549 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL/DAL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 266 Four council members are elected from residence districts and one is elected at large.
Kenansville Town 855 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 1194
Watha Town 190 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 158 SL 1989(90), c. 884 SL 2005-141
Oxford City 8,461 Council Manager Commissioners 7 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 971
Clayton Town 16,116 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 983 GS 160A-101
Brunswick Town 1,119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 197
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
Trenton Town 287 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 174 SL 1949, c. 879
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
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.
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
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.
Maysville Town 1,019 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4 Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1897, c. 171 GS 163-279
Sandy Creek Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1007
Zebulon Town 4,433 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 386 GS 160A-101
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.
Dublin Town 338 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1951, c. 509
Lewisville Town 12,639 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 116
Kenly Town 1,339 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 14
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
Pantego Town 179 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1881, c. 93
Clemmons Village 18,627 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1985, c. 437
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
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.
Troutman Town 2,383 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 144
Beech Mountain Town 320 Council Manager Council Members 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 246
Gaston Town 1,152 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1949, c. 1153 GS 160A-66
Staley Town 393 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 386 GS 163-279
Farmville Town 4,654 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 406 GS 160A-101
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.
Sandyfield Town 447 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 729
Red Oak Town 3,430 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 799 SL 1989(90), c. 1035
Duck Town 369 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2001-394.

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