Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Style Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selectionsort descending Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Simpson Village 416 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101
Rolesville Town 3,786 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 PL 1941, c. 84 SL 1977, c. 346
Ronda Town 417 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101 S.C. 2019-27 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Elections are held in even-numbered years. (S.L. 2019-73)
McDonald Town 113 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2014-24 Pr. 1911, c. 443 GS 163-279 SL 2014-24
Elm City Town 1,298 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 152
Liberty Town 2,656 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 579
Candor Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. Ex. 1908, c. 48 SL 1971, c. 576
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
Wadesboro Town 5,813 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 297 SL 2003-190
North Topsail Beach Town 743 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 100
Kill Devil Hills Town 6,683 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995(96), c. 735
Bethel Town 1,577 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 609 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1873-74, c. 20
Swansboro Town 2,663 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S/2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 207 GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 561 SL 1955, c. 443
Ansonville Town 631 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2003-190 Mun. Bd. Control 1928 GS 163-290
Sims Town 282 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 58 SL 1953, c. 292
Roper Town 611 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 24 GS 160A-101 SL 2008-104 Although the Roper charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
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.
Gatesville Town 321 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 2009-465 Pr. 1923, c. 88 SL 2009-17 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Elon Town 9,419 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 109
Rosman Town 576 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 172 Pr. 1905, c. 105 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279
Wilson\'s Mills Town 2,277 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1996 (2d extra), c. 12
Polkton Town 3,375 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 2003-328 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Lilesville Town 536 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 764
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
Creedmoor City 4,124 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 826 GS 160A-101
Wagram Town 840 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 161 SL 1981, c. 404
North Wilkesboro Town 4,245 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1977, c. 263
King City 6,904 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1983, c. 351 GS 160A-101
Beulaville Town 1,296 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 136 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.
Swepsonville Town 1,154 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1997-448
Hendersonville City 13,137 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 874
Apex Town 37,476 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 356 GS 160A-101
Rose Hill Town 1,626 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 67 SL 1969, c. 330 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Mebane City 11,393 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 514 GS 160A-101
Gibson Town 540 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1899, c. 163 SL 2005-61 Although the legislative acts cited style the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
Rowland Town 1,037 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-105 SL 2000-45
Windsor Town 3,630 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1963, c. 237 SL 1943, c. 253 SL 1965, c. 564 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Polkville Town 545 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 178 SL 1979, c. 266 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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
Cape Carteret Town 1,917 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1959, c. 727 SL 1963, c. 929 SL 1969, c. 284 GS 160A-101
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
Wake Forest Town 30,117 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 273 SL 1993, c. 118
Northwest City 735 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993, c. 222
Biltmore Forest Town 1,343 Council Manager Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 32 GS 160A-66 S.L. 2019-27 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all town departments. The jurisdiction holds municipal elections in even-numbered years (S.L. 2019-27)
Cedar Rock Town 300 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-317
Sylva Town 2,588 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1899, c. 72 SL 1957, c. 27 SL 1961, c. 31 SL 2000-30
Hertford Town 2,143 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 586
Arapahoe Town 556 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1969, c. 200
Snow Hill Town 1,595 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 58 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises 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
Roseboro Town 1,191 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 279 SL 1995, c. 18
Mesic Town 220 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1971, c. 626 GS 160A-101
Gibsonville Town 6,410 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1979, c. 392
Roxboro City 8,362 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Majority SL 1997-282
Winfall Town 594 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 342, 773 GS 160A-101
Pollocksville Town 311 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 163 SL 1965, c. 202 GS 160A-101 GS 163-279
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
Crossnore Town 192 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected At pleasure of board AL 4S/2 Plurality SL 1967, c. 832 Three aldermen are elected every two years. The two persons receiving the highest number of votes receive four-year terms; the third finisher receives a two-year term.
Walkertown Town 4,675 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1983(84), c. 936 GS 160A-101
Norwood Town 2,379 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 212 SL 2001-15 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Norwood municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Kingstown Town 681 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Majority SL 1989, c. 632
Biscoe Town 1,700 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 24 SL 1963, c. 656 GS 160A-66 GS 160A-101
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.
Tabor City Town 2,511 Council Manager Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 40 Pr. 1935, c. 18 SL 1957, c 255 GS 160A-101
Southern Shores Town 2,714 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1979, c. 203
Micro Town 441 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 762
Glen Alpine Town 1,517 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 61 SL 1989, c. 131
Erwin Town 4,405 Council Manager Commissioners 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Majority SL 1967, c. 12 GS 160A-101
Roxobel Town 240 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 439
Wingate Town 3,491 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 55 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Powellsville Town 276 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Primary Pr. 1919, c. 94 GS 163-290
Linden Town 130 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 398 SL 2001-472
Dallas Town 4,488 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1979, c. 342 GS 160A-101

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