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 Selection Board Term Election Methodsort ascending Statutory Citations Notes
Grantsboro Town 688 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1997-446 SL 2011-83
Washington Park Town 451 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control SL 1949, c. 48
Morehead City Town 8,661 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 879 GS 160A-101
Bolton Town 691 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 271
Marietta Town 175 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 111
East Laurinburg Town 0 Council Manager Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 221 GS 160A-101 The Town of East Laurinburg was dissolved effective June 30, 2022.
Ayden Town 4,932 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 79 GS 163-290 SL 2013-48
Lasker Town 122 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1895, c. 281 PL 1939, c. 48
Princeton Town 1,194 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2002-52
Holly Springs Town 24,661 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 2003-73
Columbia Town 891 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 GS 163-290 PL 1941, c. 423
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.
Summerfield Town 10,232 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1995, c. 426 GS 160A-101
Oak Island Town 6,783 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-66 GS 160A-101 SL 2003-84
Greenevers Town 634 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Watha Town 190 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 158 SL 1989(90), c. 884 SL 2005-141
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.
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
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.
Marion City 7,838 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 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.
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.
Lattimore Town 488 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1899, c. 52 Although the original town charter styled the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Princeville Town 2,082 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years D 4 Plurality SL 1977, c. 688 GS 160A-101
Hookerton Town 409 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 253
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.
Zebulon Town 4,433 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 386 GS 160A-101
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.
Oak Ridge Town 6,185 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1998-113 GS 160A-101 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Greenlevel Town 2,100 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 4S Plurality SL 1989(90), c. 942 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Waxhaw Town 9,859 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1919, c. 57 PL 1941, c. 255 GS 160A-101
Waynesville Town 9,869 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1995, c. 126
Simpson Village 416 Mayor Council Council Members 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Mun. Bd. Control GS 160A-101
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.
Boonville Town 1,222 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c 363 SL 1981(82), c. 1143 SL 2017-56 Boonville municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Mars Hill Town 1,869 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 890
Eastover Town 3,628 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-267
Bailey Town 569 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 184
Laurel Park Town 2,180 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2000-8
Proctorville Town 117 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1963, c. 306 GS 160A-101 PL 1913, c. 369 SL 2014 25
Hope Mills Town 15,176 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 650 SL 2016-66
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.
Surf City Town 1,853 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 829 GS 160A-101
Oakboro Town 1,859 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1915, c. 51 SL 2015-253 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Oakboro municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Weaverville Town 3,120 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1909, c. 335 GS 160A-101
Sims Town 282 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1923, c. 58 SL 1953, c. 292
Morven Town 511 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1947, c. 765 SL 2006-147
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.
Marshall Town 872 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 165 Pr. 1913, c. 232 Pr. 1923, c. 35 GS 160A-101
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
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.
Laurinburg City 15,962 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 586 SL 1995, c. 65 GS 160A-101 Four council members are elected from districts and one is elected at large.
Raeford City 4,611 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 371 GS 160A-101
Hot Springs Town 560 Mayor Council Aldermen 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1929, c. 210 GS 163-279
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.
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
Ocean Isle Beach Town 550 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1959, c. 887 SL 1965, c. 756 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
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.
Webster Town 363 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1955, c. 423 SL 1957, c. 60 SL 1977, c. 171 Although the Webster town charter styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town actually styles the board as the board of commissioners.
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.
Forest City Town 7,476 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 209 GS 160A-101
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
Brevard City 7,609 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 415 SL 2007-65
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.
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.
Bald Head Island Village 158 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-324
Lawndale Town 606 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1953, c. 492
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
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
Swepsonville Town 1,154 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4S Plurality 1997-448
Old Fort Town 908 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 271
Grifton Town 2,617 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 480 GS 160A-101
Grimesland Town 441 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 222 SL 1957, c. 1153
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.
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.

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