Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Bodysort descending # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Stokesdale Town 5,047 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1989, c. 488 GS 160A-101
Casar Town 297 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1971, c. 775 PL 1903, c. 359 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.
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.
Forest City Town 7,476 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 209 GS 160A-101
Marshville Town 2,402 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 313 SL 1973, c. 652 SL 2000-62 SL 2010-21 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
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.
Stoneville Town 1,056 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983, c. 287 GS 160A-101 SL 2008-9 The council employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Cedar Rock Town 300 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-317
Forest Hills Village 365 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-345
Marvin Village 5,579 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 641 The council employs a village administrator to supervise all employees.
Mount Holly City 13,656 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 212
Cerro Gordo Town 207 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 1044 Although the town charter, SL 1973, c. 1044, styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 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
Catawba Town 603 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 224 GS 160A-101
Chadbourn Town 1,856 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 895 SL 2007-271
Yanceyville Town 2,039 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 501 SL 2000-86
Lenoir City 18,228 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262
Sugar Mountain Village 198 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-242 SL 1985, c. 395
Indian Trail Town 33,518 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2009-257
Ossipee Town 543 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-137.
Shelby City 20,323 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Primary PL1939, c. 252 SL 1961, c. 416, 509 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
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
Foxfire Village Village 902 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 237
Mayodan Town 2,478 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 501 GS 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.
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
Summerfield Town 10,232 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 426 GS 160A-101
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 GS 160A-101
Hamlet Town 6,495 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 506 GS 160A-101 GS 163-290
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.
Franklin Town 3,845 Mayor Council Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 26 Pr. 1935, c. 5 GS 160A-66, -101 The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
Lewisville Town 12,639 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 116
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.
Sunset Beach Town 3,572 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 93 SL 1965, c. 362 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Jacksonville City 70,145 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 911 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large.
Simpson Village 416 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101
Cherryville City 5,760 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 581
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.
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.
Surf City Town 1,853 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 829 GS 160A-101
Jamestown Town 3,382 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 370
Chimney Rock Village 113 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 444
Bostic Town 386 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 Pr. 1913, c. 263 Although the town charter, Pr. 1913, c. 263, styles the town governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Bakersville Town 464 Mayor Council Council Members 2 Elected 4 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 2014-56. SL 1955, c. 1291 SL 2005-43 SL 2014-56 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.Two board members are elected every two years. The person receiving the highest number of votes receives a four-year term; the second-highest vote getter receives a two-year term.
Liberty Town 2,656 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 579
Weaverville Town 3,120 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 335 GS 160A-101
Dobbins Heights Town 866 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1983, c. 658
Patterson Springs Town 622 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 129 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Smithfield Town 10,966 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 2 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 827 SL 1989, c. 203 Pr. 1933, c. 36, 61 SL 1959, c. 56 Three council members are elected from districts, and four are elected at large.
Harrellsville Town 106 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1955, c. 92 PL 1983, c. 138 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.
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
McFarlan Town 117 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1885, c. 102 PL 1947, c. 771 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
Fairview Town 3,324 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-428
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.
Swepsonville Town 1,154 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1997-448
Harrisburg Town 11,526 Council Manager Council Members 7 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 111 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
Banner Elk Town 1,028 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1925, c. 124 GS 160A-101
Rennert Town 383 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 300 SL 2001-3 Although the Rennert town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
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.
Weddington Town 9,459 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 256 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Southern Pines Town 12,334 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 352 GS 160A-101
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
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.
Roxboro City 8,362 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Majority SL 1997-282
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.
Mesic Town 220 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 626 GS 160A-101

Pages