Which McDonaldland character was introduced as the town's mayor in 1971?

Mayor McCheese was introduced as the mayor of McDonaldland in 1971. He was a large anthropomorphic cheeseburger with a mayoral sash and a distinctive oversized head, making him one of the most recognizable figures in McDonald's character advertising.

McDonaldland was created as a fictional setting where Ronald McDonald and other branded characters could interact. The campaign helped McDonald's turn individual mascots into a connected advertising world aimed especially at children. Mayor McCheese functioned as the setting's civic leader and often appeared in stories alongside characters including Officer Big Mac, Captain Crook, and the Hamburglar.

The character's design was deliberately tied to menu imagery: his head resembled a cheeseburger, while his formal clothing signaled his official role. That combination made the character easy to identify even in crowded television commercials or restaurant displays.

Mayor McCheese is sometimes confused with Officer Big Mac because both characters used Big Mac imagery. Their roles were different: Mayor McCheese represented McDonaldland's government, while Officer Big Mac was associated with law enforcement.