Forms of Government and Methods of Election in North Carolina Cities

Name Stylesort descending Population Form of Gov. Governing Body # Mem. Mayor Selection Mayor Term Board Selection Board Term Election Method Statutory Citations Notes
Trenton Town 287 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 174 SL 1949, c. 879
Kure Beach Town 2,012 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1947, c. 906 SL 1975, c. 484 GS 160A-101
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
St. James Town 3,165 Council Manager Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1999-241 GS 160A-101
Highlands Town 924 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1991, c. 519 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Bryson City Town 1,424 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 207 SL 1955, c. 284 GS 160A-101
Winterville Town 9,269 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1993(94), c. 603
Ellenboro Town 873 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2007-310 SL 1983, c. 425 Although the town charter, SL 1983, c. 425, and SL 2007-310 each style the governing board as the town council, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
Sandy Creek Town 260 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1007
Beaufort Town 4,039 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 435 Pr. 1919, c. 103 GS 160A-101
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.
Walnut Cove Town 1,425 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1991, c. 447
Cornelius Town 24,866 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991(92), c. 852 GS 160A-101 SL 1971, c. 288
Pantego Town 179 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1881, c. 93
Macclesfield Town 471 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1949, c. 1124 GS 160A-101
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.
Staley Town 393 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1901, c. 386 GS 163-279
Hildebran Town 2,023 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1899, c. 212 SL 1973, c. 433 SL 1993, c. 238 Although the legislation cited above styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
Bunn Town 344 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1963, c. 690
Winton Town 769 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1961, c. 674 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Ellerbe Town 1,054 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 310 Pr. 1931, c. 24
Sandyfield Town 447 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1993(94), c. 729
Goldston Town 268 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1907, c. 108 SL 1957, c. 704 GS 160A-101
Beech Mountain Town 320 Council Manager Council Members 5 Council Member with the most votes 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1981, c. 246
Red Oak Town 3,430 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1961, c. 799 SL 1989(90), c. 1035
Cove City Town 399 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1957, c. 427 GS 163-279 GS 160A-101
Mocksville Town 5,051 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 74 GS 160A-101
Parkton Town 436 Mayor Council Aldermen 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1945, c. 803 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the board of aldermen.
Macon Town 119 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality PL 1905, c. 246
Troutman Town 2,383 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 144
Lake Lure Town 1,192 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1987, c. 194
Stallings Town 13,831 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1975, c. 758 GS 160A-101
Hillsborough Town 6,087 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 351 GS 160A-101
Burgaw Town 3,872 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2001-247
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.
Elm City Town 1,298 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1955, c. 152
Belhaven Town 1,688 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years DAL 4S Plurality SL 1969, c. 714 Although the town charter as enacted in SL 1969, c. 714, styles the governing board as the board of aldermen, the town itself actually styles it as the town council.
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
Walstonburg Town 219 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 45
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
Momeyer Town 224 Mayor Council Council Members 4 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1991, c. 242 SL 1995, c. 212
Parmele Town 278 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4 Plurality Pr. 1893, c. 60 GS 163-290 GS 160A-101 SL 2011-125
Madison Town 2,246 Council Manager Aldermen 6 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1973, c. 289 SL 2004-54
Troy Town 3,189 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 153 Pr. 1913, c. 342 SL 1957, c. 125 GS 160A-101 SL 2017-12 Troy municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Lake Santeetlah Town 45 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board At pleasure of board AL 2 Plurality SL 1987(88), c. 1012 GS 160A-101 The mayor is elected by and from the board for a two-year term but serves at the board\'s pleasure and may be removed at any time during the term.
Stanfield Town 1,486 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1957, c. 485 SL 2015-253 Stanfield municipal elections held in even-numbered years, rather than odd-numbered years.
Hobgood Town 348 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1891, c. 160 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all employees. The 1982 act of the General Assembly calls for two-year terms of the town board, but in fact board members are elected to four-year staggered terms.
Woodland Town 809 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1883, c. 136 GS 163-279
Elon Town 9,419 Council Manager Aldermen 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 109
Saratoga Town 408 Mayor Council Commissioners 3 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1947, c. 462 SL 1977, c. 479 GS 163-290
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.
Aberdeen Town 6,350 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality GS 160A-101 SL 1975, c. 147 The mayor term for the 2019 election will be 2 years. Beginning in 2021, the mayor will be elected for a term of 4 years.
Patterson Springs Town 622 Mayor Council Council Members 5 By and from Governing Board 4 Years AL 4 Plurality SL 1973, c. 129 Although the town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the town council.
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.
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
Tryon Town 1,646 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1971, c. 441 GS 160A-101
Mount Olive Town 4,589 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL/D 2 Plurality SL 1977, c. 476 Pr. 1905, c. 201 SL 1979(80),c.1303 GS 160A-101 Four commissioners are elected from districts and one is elected at large.
Lake Waccamaw Town 1,480 Council Manager Commissioners 4 Elected 4 Years D 4S Plurality SL 1967, c. 14 GS 160A-101
Stanley Town 3,556 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 2 Years DAL 4S Plurality Pr. 1911, c. 233 GS 160A-101
Hoffman Town 588 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1953, c. 1002
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.
Wrightsville Beach Town 2,477 Council Manager Aldermen 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1989, c. 611
Emerald Isle Town 3,655 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality SL 1973, c. 526 GS 160A-101
Sawmills Town 5,240 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Primary SL 1987, c. 648 The council employs a town administrator to supervise all departments.
Granite Falls Town 4,722 Council Manager Council Members 6 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1981, c. 382
Belville Town 1,936 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 84 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator who supervises all departments.
Rennert Town 383 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1977, c. 300 SL 2001-3 Although the Rennert town charter styles the governing board as the board of commissioners, the town actually styles the board as the council.
Warsaw Town 3,054 Council Manager Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1965, c. 972 GS 160A-101 Pr. 1885, c. 91
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
Montreat Town 723 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 2 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1985, c. 295 SL 1998-38 GS 160A-101 The board of commissioners employs a town administrator to supervise all departments. Beginning with 2015 election, Mayor term is four years.
Ahoskie Town 5,039 Council Manager Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL/D 4S Plurality SL 1963, c. 609 GS 160A-101 SL 2009-31 Four council members are elected from districts and one is elected at large.
Peachland Town 437 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 2003-328
Cedar Rock Town 300 Mayor Council Council Members 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality SL 1997-317
Magnolia Town 939 Mayor Council Commissioners 5 Elected 4 Years AL 4S Plurality Pr. 1905, c. 174 SL 1963, c. 82
Turkey Town 292 Mayor Council Commissioners 4 Elected 2 Years AL 2 Plurality Pr. 1913, c. 82

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