Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

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Name Style Population Form of Gov.sort descending Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
North Topsail Beach Town 743 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 100
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.
Liberty Town 2,656 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 579
Cramerton Town 4,165 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 2013 178 SL 1967, c. 1061 SL 2013-178
Troy Town 3,189 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 153 Pr. 1913, c. 342 SL 1957, c. 125 GS 160A-101 SL 2017-12 Troy municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Plymouth Town 3,878 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years D 2 Plurality SL 1995, c. 325 SL 2001-51
Stallings Town 13,831 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 758 GS 160A-101
North Wilkesboro Town 4,245 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 263
Elon Town 9,419 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 109
Jefferson Town 1,611 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1957, c. 552 GS 160A-101
Creedmoor City 4,124 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 826 GS 160A-101
Cedar Point Town 1,279 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1005 Although the town charter, SL 1987(88), c. 1005, styles the governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners. There will be a change from 4 to 5 governing board members in the 2021 election.
Tryon Town 1,646 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 441 GS 160A-101
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.
Stanley Town 3,556 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 233 GS 160A-101
Mebane City 11,393 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 514 GS 160A-101
Wrightsville Beach Town 2,477 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 611
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
Sawmills Town 5,240 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1987, c. 648 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Lillington Town 3,194 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1903, c. 252 SL 1959, c. 901 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
Warsaw Town 3,054 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 972 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1885, c. 91
Jonesville Town 2,285 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-16 SL 2017-56 Jonesville municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Harrisburg Town 11,526 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 111 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
Fuquay-Varina Town 17,937 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 167 SL 1959, c. 774
Stantonsburg Town 784 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1212 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.
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).
Washington City 9,744 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1995 (96) c. 736
Kannapolis City 42,625 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 191 GS 160A-101
Catawba Town 603 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 224 GS 160A-101
Boiling Springs Town 4,647 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 349 GS 160A-101
Yanceyville Town 2,039 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 501 SL 2000-86
Erwin Town 4,405 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1967, c. 12 GS 160A-101
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101
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
Chadbourn Town 1,856 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 895 SL 2007-271
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.
Oak Island Town 6,783 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-66 GS 160A-101 SL 2003-84
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
Chapel Hill Town 57,233 Council Manager Council Members 8 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 473 SL 1981, c. 911 GS 160A-101
Garner Town 25,745 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 333 GS 160A-101
Ayden Town 4,932 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 79 GS 163-290 SL 2013-48
Princeville Town 2,082 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years D 4 Plurality SL 1977, c. 688 GS 160A-101
Badin Town 1,974 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL/DAL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 894 SL 2015-253 Two council members are elected from residence districts, and three are elected at large. Baldin holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Zebulon Town 4,433 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 386 GS 160A-101
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.
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
Kenly Town 1,339 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 14
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.
Boone Town 17,122 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality Pr. 1931, c. 187 SL 1969, c. 905 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1907, c. 107 Three board members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the third-highest vote getter receives a two-year term.
Midland Town 3,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2000-91 GS 160A-101
Selma Town 6,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 934
Waynesville Town 9,869 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1995, c. 126
Kernersville Town 23,123 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 381 GS 160A-101
Denton Town 1,636 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 497 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-42
Cherryville City 5,760 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 581
Raeford City 4,611 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 371 GS 160A-101
Fairmont Town 2,663 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL,1973, c. 288 GS 160A-101
Seven Devils Town 192 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 205 GS 160A-101 Three council members are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the person finishing third receives a two-year term.
Weaverville Town 3,120 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 335 GS 160A-101
Kill Devil Hills Town 6,683 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995(96), c. 735
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.
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
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.
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
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.
King City 6,904 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 351 GS 160A-101
Kinston City 21,677 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Partisan SL 1987, c. 169
Hendersonville City 13,137 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 874
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.
Brevard City 7,609 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 415 SL 2007-65
Banner Elk Town 1,028 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 124 GS 160A-101
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

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