Starbase Officially Becomes Texas City Following Overwhelming Vote

Residents of the area surrounding SpaceX's rocket launch facility in South Texas have overwhelmingly voted to incorporate Starbase, Texas, as an official city, with most of the 283 eligible voters being SpaceX employees or their family members. The vote marks a significant milestone for Elon Musk, who first proposed the idea in 2021, and the new municipality will have its first officials—current or former SpaceX employees—elected unopposed. The creation of Starbase has been met with both local support for SpaceX’s economic impact and criticism over the potential for expanded corporate control, including authority to close nearby public amenities for launches. The area, formerly known as Boca Chica, has been transformed from a quiet retirement community into a major hub for the development of SpaceX’s Starship rocket, which is central to Musk’s vision of sending humans to Mars. The company has struggled to provide enough housing for its growing workforce, and local legislative efforts are underway to shift more authority from the county to the newly formed city government. As SpaceX seeks to ramp up its launch frequency, the establishment of Starbase as a city cements Musk’s influence over the community’s future.