Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem.sort ascending 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.

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