Residents of SpaceX’s Starbase Launch Site Vote Overwhelmingly to Incorporate as City of Starbase, Texas
Boca Chica, Texas – May 4, 2025 – Residents of the area surrounding SpaceX’s Starbase launch site in South Texas voted decisively on May 3, 2025, to incorporate as the City of Starbase, marking a significant milestone for Elon Musk’s vision of a space-centric community. The vote, which passed with 212 in favor and only 6 against, transforms the 1.5-square-mile region near Brownsville into Texas’ newest municipality, the first in Cameron County since Los Indios in 1995. The election, held at a SpaceX facility, also saw the unopposed election of three SpaceX-affiliated officials—Bobby Peden as mayor, and Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka as commissioners—cementing the company’s influence over the new city.
The Vote and Its Context
The incorporation of Starbase, previously part of the unincorporated Boca Chica Village, fulfills a goal Musk first articulated in 2021. Of the 283 eligible voters, most are SpaceX employees or their families, with a Texas Newsroom analysis indicating that at least two-thirds either work for SpaceX or signed a petition supporting incorporation. The petition, filed on December 12, 2024, and approved for election by Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño on February 13, 2025, cited the need to streamline infrastructure development, including roads, utilities, and housing, to support Starbase’s growth as a hub for SpaceX’s Starship program, aimed at Mars colonization.
Starbase, spanning approximately 500 residents, including 260 SpaceX employees, is designed to be a company town, with SpaceX owning nearly all 247 residential lots, except for 10. The new city will manage services like roads and utilities, previously handled through county agreements, and could adopt lenient zoning ordinances to build more housing, easing recruitment for SpaceX’s 3,100-strong workforce, most of whom commute from Brownsville. Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders emphasized that incorporation will “make the area a world-class place to live” for current and prospective workers.
Implications and Controversies
The incorporation grants Starbase autonomy to establish its own police, fire departments, and ordinances, and access state and federal grants, while subjecting it to Texas transparency laws requiring open meetings and public records. However, the move has sparked concerns, particularly over access to Boca Chica Beach, a public strip popular for fishing and camping, which must be closed during SpaceX’s rocket launches. SpaceX, seeking to increase launches from five to 25 annually, is backing a Texas Senate-approved bill to transfer weekday beach closure authority from Cameron County to Starbase’s commissioners, a move pending in the Texas House and opposed by county officials and environmentalists.
Local activists, including the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and the Carrizo Comecrudo Tribe, protested the vote, arguing that Starbase’s creation prioritizes SpaceX’s interests over public access and environmental preservation. Christopher Basaldú, a tribal member, called Boca Chica “sacred” and criticized SpaceX’s impact on the area’s wildlife, noise, and light pollution. Protests on May 3, featuring a Musk piñata, highlighted fears of restricted beach access and gentrification displacing locals.
Economic and Cultural Impact
Supporters, including SpaceX and local resident Anthony Gomez, who runs a launch-viewing business, argue that Starbase’s incorporation will reduce Cameron County’s burden and boost the local economy, which benefits from SpaceX’s high-skill jobs and tourism. The company’s presence has generated hundreds of millions in income and taxes, aiding a region where nearly one-third of residents live in poverty. However, critics point to environmental concerns, including fires, leaks, and explosions from Starbase’s operations since 2019, and the disruption caused by frequent beach closures.
Musk, who owns a home on Memes Street in Starbase, celebrated the outcome on X, writing, “Starbase, Texas Is now a real city!” The vote aligns with his broader vision, with plans floated for another company town, Snailbrook, near his Austin-area facilities. Posts on X, such as those from @MarioNawfal and @StarbaseTX, reflected enthusiasm for Starbase as a “space-age city,” though some users expressed unease about corporate control.
Next Steps
Cameron County will certify the election results within two weeks, after which Judge Treviño will issue an order formalizing Starbase’s status as a Type-C municipality. The new city’s leaders, all SpaceX-affiliated, will face immediate decisions on services, taxation, and governance, with Texas law granting significant flexibility. The incorporation marks a bold step for Musk, potentially setting a precedent for tech-driven company towns, but its success will hinge on balancing SpaceX’s ambitions with community and environmental concerns.