SpaceX Launch Site Starbase Becomes Official Texas City After Landslide Vote

Residents of South Texas voted overwhelmingly this weekend to establish Elon Musk's SpaceX launch site as its own municipality.

The election results, certified on Saturday, May 3, 2025, transformed the area known as Boca Chica Village into the City of Starbase, Texas, creating what may be America's first true "company town" of the 21st century.

The Vote That Created a City

The incorporation measure passed by a landslide margin, with 212 votes in favor and only 6 opposed^1.

While this might seem like a modest voter turnout for establishing a new city, only 283 people, those living within the boundaries of the proposed municipality, were eligible to participate in this historic decision^8.

What makes this vote particularly noteworthy is the composition of the electorate.

According to analysis performed by The Texas Newsroom, more than three-fifths of eligible voters work for SpaceX, with an additional 20 voters having previously signed the petition calling for the incorporation vote.

This means at least two-thirds of voters either worked for SpaceX or had already indicated support for creating the new city^8.

STARBASE INCORPORATION VOTE RESULTS
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Votes in favor: 212
Votes opposed: 6
Total eligible voters: 283
Voter turnout: 77%

The area being incorporated spans approximately 1.5 square miles and will include Boca Chica Village and the surrounding SpaceX rocket testing and launch facility^3.

Located about 20 miles outside Brownsville at the southernmost tip of Texas near the Mexico border, this remote location has been transformed over the past decade from a sleepy coastal area to the center of America's next-generation space program^9.

From Beach Village to Space Hub

SpaceX's journey to establish Starbase began well before this weekend's vote.

The company started purchasing land in the area as early as 2012, gradually expanding its holdings through a company called Dogleg Park LLC-a playful reference to the "dogleg" trajectory that rockets launched from this location must follow^10.

Major construction at the site began in 2016, with significant expansion starting in late 2018. By September 2019, the location had been transformed into a functioning launch facility equipped with the ground support necessary for testing SpaceX's next-generation Starship vehicles^10.

The idea to turn the area into an official city has been publicly discussed since 2021, when Musk first tweeted about creating "Starbase, Texas."

Following the vote, Musk celebrated the result with a simple message on his social media platform X: "S T A R B A S E"^1.

The economic transformation of the area has been remarkable:

What Incorporation Means for Starbase

The newly formed City of Starbase will function as a Type-C municipality under Texas law, governed by a mayor and two commissioners who will oversee local matters including zoning, taxation, and infrastructure development^9.

This shift to municipal status gives SpaceX greater control over functions they've already been managing through agreements with Cameron County, such as roads and utilities^8.

Incorporation also means Starbase will need to hold regular open meetings and share information about spending and revenue with the public-potentially opening up SpaceX to greater transparency requirements^8.

As Kathryn Lueders, Starbase Manager, explained in a letter to Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, incorporating Starbase will "streamline the processes required to build the amenities necessary to make the area a world-class place to live"^1.

One significant aspect of incorporation relates to beach access.

Currently, SpaceX must coordinate with Cameron County when closing highway access to Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica Park for rocket launches, engine tests, and equipment movement.

Two legislative proposals under consideration would transfer much of that responsibility to the new city government, coinciding with SpaceX's request to the Federal Aviation Administration to increase its launch frequency from five to 25 annually^4.

STARBASE AT A GLANCE
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Location: Southern tip of Texas (near Mexico border)
Area: ~1.5 square miles
Population: ~500 residents
Government: Mayor and 2 commissioners
Major employer: SpaceX
Primary function: Space launch and manufacturing

Economic Boom and Community Impact

The creation of Starbase represents a massive economic development for Cameron County and the Rio Grande Valley region.

SpaceX has become the largest employer in the area, directly employing more than 1,800 workers according to company documents, with economic analysis suggesting this activity supports thousands of additional jobs throughout the region[^11],^13.

For a single Starship launch, more than 11,000 people have traveled to South Texas, drawing over 20,000 tourists and 16,500 official visitors to the region in 2023 alone^13.

This influx of space enthusiasts and industry professionals has dramatically boosted local tourism, with an estimated economic impact of $99 million in 2025^5.

Beyond current operations, SpaceX is investing an additional $400 million to construct one million square feet of manufacturing space and 329,000 square feet of office space at Starbase^5,^13.

This expansion signals the company's long-term commitment to the region and suggests the economic benefits may continue to grow.

Concerns and Criticisms

Not everyone in the region is enthusiastic about the creation of Starbase.

Some residents have expressed concerns about Musk's growing influence over the area and the potential environmental impacts of increased rocket testing and launches^9.

Critics worry that incorporation could grant SpaceX greater autonomy to bypass regulations and tighten control over access to Boca Chica Beach, a popular local destination.

Environmental concerns include disruptive sonic booms and debris from launches affecting the local ecosystem.

The incorporation vote also highlights questions about the nature of company towns in the 21st century.

While historical company towns were often characterized by corporate control over housing, stores, and public services, Starbase represents a modern evolution of this concept, a municipality predominantly populated by employees of a single technology company focused on space exploration^8.

Looking to the Future

The establishment of Starbase as a city could potentially serve as a model for future developments, both for SpaceX and other technology companies seeking greater control over their operational environments.

For SpaceX, Starbase represents more than just a launch facility, it's the foundation for humanity's ambitions to become a multi-planetary species.

The site serves as both a testing ground and launch point for the Starship rocket program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon and eventually send humans to Mars.

SPACEX'S CURRENT CONTRACTS FROM STARBASE
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- NASA: Artemis program (lunar missions)
- Department of Defense: Various launch services
- Commercial satellite deployments
- Potential future Mars missions

With the vote now complete and incorporation approved, the transition to municipal status will begin once Cameron County certifies the results.

The new city government will then need to establish ordinances, budgets, and operational procedures-all while maintaining the site's primary function as a launch facility for some of humanity's most ambitious space exploration efforts.

The Bigger Picture

The establishment of Starbase fits into a larger pattern of Elon Musk-led companies reshaping communities and industries.

While Musk's public image has seen challenges recently, particularly related to his role in federal job cuts under the Trump administration and issues at Tesla, SpaceX continues to enjoy strong support from local officials due to its economic contributions.

For investors and companies watching this development, Starbase represents a fascinating case study in how private enterprise can reshape not just industries but also governance structures.

The success or failure of this experiment in corporate-led municipal development could influence how technology companies approach community integration and public-private partnerships for decades to come.

As SpaceX continues its ambitious launch schedule and Starbase establishes itself as a functioning city, all eyes will be on this remote corner of Texas that has become the unlikely center of humanity's next chapter in space exploration - a place where the boundary between company and community, between private enterprise and public governance, is being redefined in real time.