Elon Musk’s SpaceX has officially established Starbase as a city in South Texas, a move that saw a small group of mostly SpaceX workers vote in favor of the change on Saturday.
The results, published by the Cameron County Elections Bureau, indicated 212 votes for and just 6 against the formation of the city.
Musk took to his social platform X to celebrate, declaring it “now a real city!”
Starbase serves as the launch site for SpaceX’s Rocket program, which works under contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense, with ambitions to return astronauts to the moon and, eventually, Mars.
The idea for a city here originated with Musk in 2021, and it seemed likely that the proposal would receive approval, considering the majority of the 283 eligible voters are employed by SpaceX.
This electoral victory holds personal significance for Musk, especially as his popularity has waned amid scrutiny over federal budgets and declining earnings for Tesla.
While SpaceX has garnered support from local officials, the establishment of this official company town has raised concerns about Musk’s expanding influence in the area.
Measures to support city formation include a legislative proposal to shift governance from county officials to the city mayor and council.
SpaceX is seeking to increase launch frequency in South Texas from five to 25 per year, necessitating these changes.
The city itself, situated near the southern tip of Texas and the Mexican border, covers just 1.5 square miles, with a landscape dotted by airstream trailers and quaint mid-century homes.
SpaceX did not share the reasoning behind its desire for a company town and did not respond to inquiries for clarification.
In a letter sent in 2024, Starbase’s general manager, Kathryn Ludays, emphasized the need to grow the community and asserted control over local regulations concerning education, healthcare, and utilities.
SpaceX officials argued that having city authority would facilitate their operations, particularly in regard to launch logistics, which often require local road closures and access to nearby parks and beaches.
Critics, however, contend that oversight of beach closures should remain under county jurisdiction, representing a wider population that frequents these areas. Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. mentioned that current cooperation with SpaceX is satisfactory without any need for change.
A proposed new bill would classify failure to evacuate the beach when ordered as a Class B misdemeanor, carrying up to 180 days in jail.
Following the proceedings, the South Texas Environmental Justice Network, which previously protested against the voting and beach access concerns, organized another demonstration with numerous participants.
Joset Hinojosa, attending with her young daughter who was busy building a sandcastle, expressed a desire to preserve beach access for future generations. “There are days when it’s closed and some days when it leaves,” she remarked about the unpredictability of the situation.
Christopher Basardou, an organizer and member of the Texas Kariso/Comekurd nation, emphasized the cultural significance of the land in the area, stating, “It’s not just important; it’s sacred.”
