New City of Starbase Established in South Texas, Aiming to Support SpaceX Expansion
Boca Chica, TX – A South Texas community has voted overwhelmingly to establish a new city named Starbase, fulfilling a vision long held by Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. In Saturday’s election, 212 out of 218 participating voters supported the incorporation, according to Cameron County election officials. With a total of 283 eligible voters, the community has seen significant investment and growth since SpaceX began operations there in 2014.
The area, commonly referred to by locals as Boca Chica, spans roughly 1.5 square miles and is situated near the Mexican border. It serves as SpaceX’s central hub and launch site, housing hundreds of employees, many of whom rent homes in the area. Musk has frequently branded the locality as "Starbase," including a personal note on social media where he referred to his rented residence as "kinda awesome."
The push for incorporation began last December when local residents filed a petition reflecting the community’s need for formal governance. Identifying around 500 residents, mostly SpaceX employees, the petition highlighted the necessity for services like police and fire departments, as well as the ability to adopt local ordinances.
Legal experts emphasized that new municipalities, although not required to perform extensive functions, can access state and federal grants and have certain legal protections. Starbase will also take on responsibilities such as road maintenance, previously managed by the county.
Elon Musk celebrated this milestone on social media, remarking, “Starbase started with one shovel,” signifying the community’s potential growth alongside SpaceX’s ambitious plans for space exploration. As Starbase develops, it may become a focal point for innovation and expansion in the aerospace sector.
J. David Goodman contributed to this report.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
