In a landmark decision, voters in South Texas have approved the incorporation of Starbase as an official city, marking a significant milestone for Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The election, held on May 3, 2025, saw an overwhelming majority of 212 votes in favor and only 6 against, out of 283 eligible voters, most of whom are SpaceX employees or their families.
The newly established city, located near Boca Chica at the southern tip of Texas, spans approximately 1.5 square miles and is now set to be governed by three SpaceX representatives: Bobby Peden as mayor, and Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka as city commissioners, all of whom ran unopposed.
Elon Musk, who first expressed his desire to create a city called Starbase in 2021, celebrated the achievement on X, declaring, “Starbase, Texas, is now a real city!” The billionaire’s vision for a municipality centered around SpaceX’s rocket launch facility has been years in the making.
Starbase serves as the primary hub for the development and testing of SpaceX’s Starship program, which aims to send astronauts to the moon and eventually Mars under contracts with NASA and the Department of Defense.
The incorporation of Starbase allows SpaceX to manage local governance, including roads, utilities, and potentially even beach closures for launches, which have been a point of contention with local communities.
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Critics, including environmental groups like the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe, have raised concerns about the environmental impact of SpaceX’s operations and the potential loss of public access to Boca Chica Beach.
Despite these concerns, the move is seen as a strategic step to support SpaceX’s growth, with the company already providing schooling and medical care for residents in the area.
As Starbase transitions into an official city, it will need to establish its own ordinances and services, potentially including police and fire departments.
While this development fulfills Musk’s long-held dream, it also raises questions about the balance between corporate control and public interest in the region.
