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On May 3, 2025, the small community surrounding SpaceX’s rocket launch facility at Boca Chica Beach officially became Texas’ newest city, Starbase, following a decisive vote by local residents. The incorporation of Starbase, Texas, marks a significant milestone for Elon Musk’s aerospace company, transforming its primary testing and launch site into a municipality largely populated by SpaceX employees and their families.

The election, held on Saturday, saw 173 votes in favor of incorporation and only 4 against, with a total of 283 eligible voters, most of whom are SpaceX employees or have ties to the company. The measure, which required just 143 votes to pass, was declared a success by Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza, who stated, “Cameron County is about to have a new city.” Elon Musk celebrated the outcome on X, posting, “Starbase, Texas is now a real city!”

Located about 20 miles east of Brownsville, the 1.5-square-mile Starbase city encompasses the former unincorporated area of Boca Chica Village, where SpaceX has been developing and launching its Starship rockets since 2014. The incorporation grants Starbase the authority to manage building permits, collect taxes, pass local ordinances, and establish a small city government. Robert “Bobby” Peden, a SpaceX vice president with 12 years at the company, was elected mayor, running unopposed alongside two commissioners, Jordan Buss and a third candidate with longstanding SpaceX connections.

The push for city status began in December 2024, when SpaceX’s Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders submitted a petition to Cameron County requesting an election to incorporate the area. The petition, signed by 70 residents—nearly all SpaceX employees—highlighted the company’s existing infrastructure, including roads, medical services, and educational facilities, while emphasizing continued environmental mitigation efforts. Musk first proposed the idea of Starbase in 2021, envisioning a community that would support SpaceX’s ambitious goal of enabling human missions to Mars and returning NASA astronauts to the Moon.

While the incorporation has been hailed as a step toward streamlining SpaceX’s operations, it has sparked concerns among some local residents and environmental activists who fear that the city could restrict public access to Boca Chica Beach, a popular public state park adjacent to the launch site. SpaceX currently requires Cameron County’s permission to close the beach and State Highway 4 during launches. A proposed bill in the Texas legislature, which would have granted Starbase authority to oversee weekday beach and highway closures, was rejected by the Texas House State Affairs Committee on April 29, 2025, ensuring that Cameron County retains control for now.

SpaceX has brought significant economic benefits to the Rio Grande Valley region, creating over 3,000 jobs at Starbase, and boosting local commerce in Brownsville and nearby South Padre Island during rocket flights. The company plans to launch 25 Starship flights annually which could further boost the economy in the coming years by attracting tourists.

The incorporation of Starbase positions it as a unique company town, a rarity in modern America, drawing comparisons to Gilded Age industrial communities. With nearly 500 residents, including about 120 children, Starbase is poised to grow as SpaceX ramps up its launch schedule, seeking Federal Aviation Administration approval to increase launches from 5 to 25 per year.

As Starbase takes its place on the map, it symbolizes both the promise of space exploration and the challenges of balancing industrial ambition with community and environmental safety.

Author’s Note: My objective is to keep the public informed about local SpaceX Starbase Texas operations and interesting NASA missions through the educational stories I write. Consider Subscribing for $5 on 𝕏 to Support my work at Cosmic Chronicles. Visit: X.com/JaneidyEve to Subscribe. THANK YOU!