Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities
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Name | Style | Population | Form of Gov. | Governing Body | # Mem. | Mayor Selection | Mayor Term | Board Selection | Board Term | Election Method | Statutory Citations | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. |
Fayetteville | City | 200,564 | Council Manager | Council Members | 9 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Primary | SL 1979, c. 557, 794 GS 160A-101 | |
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. |
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. |
Tarboro | Town | 11,415 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 73 | |
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. |
Trinity | City | 6,614 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1997-44 GS 160A-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. |
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 | |
Winston-Salem | City | 229,617 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Partisan | Pr. 1927, c. 232 Pr. 1933, c. 60 SL 1947, c. 601 SL 1965, c. 53 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-141 | Winston-Salem municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
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. |
Elizabeth City | City | 18,683 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Majority | SL 2001-227 | |
Lumberton | City | 21,542 | Council Manager | Council Members | 8 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1963, c. 115 SL 1965, c. 282 SL 1967, c. 237 SL 1971, c. 166 GS 163-290 | |
Harrisburg | Town | 11,526 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 111 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 | |
Wilson | City | 49,167 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Plurality | SL 1969, c. 136 SL 1979, c. 334 GS 160A-101 | |
Albemarle | Town | 15,903 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1979, c. 259 SL 1987(88), c. 881 GS 160A-101 SL 2015-253 | Four council members are elected from districts and three are elected at large. Albemarle holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
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. |
Locust | City | 2,930 | Mayor Council | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 246 SL 1977, c. 41 SL 2015-253. | The council employs a city administrator to supervise all departments. Locust municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
Oxford | City | 8,461 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1963, c. 971 | |
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. |
Rocky Mount | City | 57,477 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4S | Majority | SL 2003-327 | |
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. |
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 | |
Asheboro | Town | 25,012 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | SL 1967, c. 481 SL 1989(90), c. 921 GS 160A-101 | |
Warrenton | Town | 862 | Mayor Council | Commissioners | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1915, c. 201 GS 160A-101 | The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. |
Siler City | Town | 7,887 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 7 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1887, c. 88 SL 1989, c. 16 | Five commissioners are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Lenoir | City | 18,228 | Council Manager | Council Members | 7 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Primary | SL 1977, c. 118 SL 1997-262 | |
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. |
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. |
LaGrange | Town | 2,873 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | GS 163-290 SL 1979(80), c. 1151 GS 160A-101 | Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council. |
Fremont | Town | 1,255 | Mayor Council | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Plurality | SL 2009-292 | The board of aldermen employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. |
Lewisville | Town | 12,639 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1991, c. 116 | |
Granite Falls | Town | 4,722 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1981, c. 382 | |
Madison | Town | 2,246 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 289 SL 2004-54 | |
Wilmington | City | 106,476 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1977, c. 495 GS 160A-101 | |
Dunn | City | 9,263 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | D | 4 | Majority | SL 1969, c. 818 SL 1971, c. 104 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 | |
Butner | Town | 7,591 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 2007-269 | |
Alamance | Village | 951 | Mayor Council | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1979, c. 840 | |
Southport | City | 2,833 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1983, c. 659 | |
Benson | Town | 3,311 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1999-91 GS 160A-101 | Three council members are elected from districts, and three are elected at large. In the election of at large members, each voter may only vote for one candidate. |
Durham | City | 228,330 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 1975, c. 671 GS 160A-101 | Three council members are elected from residence districts, and three are elected at large. |
Monroe | City | 32,797 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Majority | SL 2000-35 | |
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 | |
Mooresville | Town | 32,711 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/D | 4S | Primary | SL 1975, c. 239 GS 160A-101 | Four commissioners are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Bessemer City | City | 5,340 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | DAL | 2 | Plurality | SL 1989(90), c. 1018 | |
Flat Rock | Village | 3,114 | Mayor Council | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 1995, c. 48 | |
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. |
Manteo | Town | 1,434 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1899, c. 66 Pr. 1907, c. 198 SL 1993, c. 108 GS 160A-101 | |
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, | |
Erwin | Town | 4,405 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4 | Majority | SL 1967, c. 12 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. |
Morrisville | Town | 18,576 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1947, c. 776 SL 1975, c. 802 GS 160A-101 | Four commissioners are elected from residence districts, and two 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 | |
Newton | City | 12,968 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989(90). c. 1042 GS 160A-101 | |
Hudson | Town | 3,776 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | Pr. 1905, c. 239 SL 1967, c. 322 GS 160A-101 | |
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. |
Saint Pauls | Town | 2,035 | Mayor Council | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1991(92), c. 874 SL 1993, c. 158 | Four commissioners are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. |
Eastover | Town | 3,628 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 2007-267 | |
Salemburg | Town | 435 | Mayor Council | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1967, c. 104 SL 1993(94), c. 703 | |
Archdale | City | 11,415 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL/DAL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1969, c. 667 SL 2007-41 | Four council members are elected from residence districts, and two are elected at large. In addition, Archdale holds municipal elections in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years. |
Louisburg | Town | 3,359 | Mayor Council | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1961, c. 1022 GS 160A-101 | The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. |
Hickory | City | 40,010 | Council Manager | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | DAL | 4S | Primary | SL 1961, c. 323 SL 1967, c. 404 | |
Fairmont | Town | 2,663 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL,1973, c. 288 GS 160A-101 | |
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 | |
Plymouth | Town | 3,878 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | D | 2 | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 325 SL 2001-51 | |
Woodfin | Town | 6,123 | Mayor Council | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 271 SL 1979, c. 324 SL 1983, c. 291 | The board of aldermen employs a town administrator who supervises all departments. |
Summerfield | Town | 10,232 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1995, c. 426 GS 160A-101 | |
Red Springs | Town | 3,428 | Council Manager | Commissioners | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1949, c. 1252 SL 1951, c. 344 SL 1957, c. 457 SL 1969, c. 212 | |
Edenton | Town | 5,004 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL/D | 4S | Plurality | SL 1985(86), c. 815 | Four council members are elected from districts, and two are elected at large. |
Mount Holly | City | 13,656 | Council Manager | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1975, c. 212 | |
Connelly Springs | Town | 1,669 | Mayor Council | Aldermen | 6 | Elected | 4 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1989, c. 528 SL 1993, c. 37 | |
High Shoals | City | 696 | Mayor Council | Council Members | 6 | Elected | 2 Years | AL | 4S | Plurality | SL 1973, c. 317 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. |