Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem.sort descending Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Southern Pines Town 12,334 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 352 GS 160A-101
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.
Pilot Mountain Town 1,477 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 28 GS 160A-101 2012-47 Pilot Mountain municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Hertford Town 2,143 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 586
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.
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
Roxobel Town 240 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 439
Belwood Town 950 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977(78), c. 1208 SL 1981, c. 114
Walkertown Town 4,675 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 936 GS 160A-101
Winfall Town 594 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 342, 773 GS 160A-101
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.
Rural Hall Town 2,937 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973(74), c. 1100 GS 160A-101
Bolivia Town 143 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1961, c. 366
Pine Level Town 1,700 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 425 SL 1957, c. 50
Milton Town 166 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 130 PL 1967, c. 207
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
Godwin Town 139 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 397 SL 1947, c. 243 GS 163-279 SL 2009-5
Creswell Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 276 SL 1993(94), c. 626 GS 163-279
Earl Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 787 Although incorporated as \\\"Earl Station\\\" the town now goes by \\\"Earl\\\". In addition, although the town charter refers to the governing board as board of commissioners, the board in fact is referred to as the town council.
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.
Calabash Town 1,786 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1999-16 SL 1973, c. 391 SL 1989, c. 593 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Andrews Town 1,781 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 135 SL 1959, c. 193 Pr. 1930, c. 187 SL 1977, c. 209 GS 160A-101 The town board employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Kitty Hawk Town 3,272 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 206 GS 160A-101
Tryon Town 1,646 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 441 GS 160A-101
Leland Town 13,527 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 564 GS 160A-101
Selma Town 6,073 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 934
Walnut Cove Town 1,425 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 447
Wesley Chapel Village 7,463 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-43 The town board employs an administrator to supervise town operations.
Pinehurst Village 13,124 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control 1980 GS 160A-101
Stokesdale Town 5,047 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1989, c. 488 GS 160A-101
Minnesott Beach Town 440 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 890
Jamestown Town 3,382 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary SL 1981, c. 370
Angier Town 4,350 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 2008-63
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
Rutherfordton Town 4,213 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 350 GS 160A-101
Turkey Town 292 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 82
Orrum Town 91 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 993 SL 2017-58
Lumber Bridge Town 94 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 99 SL 1967, c. 226 SL 1995(96), c. 570 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Harmony Town 531 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control
Mint Hill Town 22,722 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 73 GS 160A-101
Graham City 14,153 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 339 GS 160A-101
Danbury Town 189 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 169 GS 160A-101
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.
Canton Town 4,227 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 90 Pr. 1911, c. 178 Pr. 1935, c. 119 GS 160A-101
Woodland Town 809 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 136 GS 163-279
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.
Grandfather Village Village 25 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 419
Macclesfield Town 471 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 1124 GS 160A-101
Wrightsville Beach Town 2,477 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 611
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.
Cherryville City 5,760 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 581
Lake Lure Town 1,192 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 194
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.
Bridgeton Town 454 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1989, c. 621
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
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
Momeyer Town 224 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 242 SL 1995, c. 212
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
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.
Granite Quarry Town 2,930 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-203 SL 2007-89
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.
Fairview Town 3,324 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-428
Yanceyville Town 2,039 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 501 SL 2000-86
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
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.
Dobbins Heights Town 866 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1983, c. 658
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
Brookford Town 382 Mayor Council Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 109 GS 163-279
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
Holly Springs Town 24,661 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 2003-73
Faison Town 961 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 378
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.
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.

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