Starbase, Texas Becomes Official City After SpaceX Employee Vote

May 4, 2025

Residents of the area surrounding SpaceX’s Starbase launch site in South Texas voted overwhelmingly on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to incorporate as the City of Starbase, fulfilling a long-standing vision of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. The election, held in Cameron County, saw 212 votes in favor and only six against, with just 143 votes needed to secure incorporation. The new municipality, spanning approximately 1.5 square miles near the Mexico border, is composed almost entirely of SpaceX employees and their families, marking a historic moment as one of the first modern company towns in the United States. The vote also elected SpaceX-affiliated candidates as the city’s first leaders, raising both opportunities and concerns about autonomy, environmental impact, and access to the nearby Boca Chica Beach.

The Vote and Its Context

The incorporation vote followed a petition filed by SpaceX employees on December 12, 2024, with Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño ordering the election on February 13, 2025. Of the 283 eligible voters, most are SpaceX employees, with a Texas Newsroom analysis indicating that over two-thirds either work for the company or had previously signed the incorporation petition. The election took place at a SpaceX facility on Memes Street, reflecting the company’s dominant presence in the area. Musk, who owns a home in Starbase and lists it as his primary residence, celebrated the outcome on X, posting, “Starbase, Texas Is now a real city!” It is unclear whether he voted.

The new city, encompassing SpaceX’s rocket testing and launch complex, has a population of about 500, including 260 SpaceX employees and their families. Starbase serves as the primary hub for SpaceX’s Starship program, designed to enable human missions to Mars. The company has transformed the once-quiet Boca Chica Village since breaking ground in 2014, building a massive complex with a 480-foot launch tower, a production facility, and residential areas featuring Airstream trailers and prefabricated homes. Incorporation grants Starbase control over local governance, including zoning, utilities, and potentially beach closures, previously managed by Cameron County.

Leadership and Governance

The election also selected Starbase’s first municipal leaders, all of whom ran unopposed and have ties to SpaceX. Bobby Peden, a 36-year-old vice president of test and launch operations at SpaceX since 2013, was elected mayor with 216 votes. Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka, also current or former SpaceX employees, were chosen as city commissioners. As a Type-C municipality, Starbase will operate with a small government, with the mayor overseeing daily operations unless a city manager is later appointed. The city must now establish a budget and decide on services like police, fire, or utilities, with the flexibility to adopt lenient zoning ordinances to support growth, as noted by Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders in a letter to Treviño.

Incorporation subjects Starbase to Texas laws requiring open meetings and public records, potentially increasing transparency. However, the city’s close ties to SpaceX raise questions about accountability, as nearly all 247 residential lots are owned by the company or its employees, according to county records. Legal expert Alan Bojorquez noted that Texas cities have significant autonomy, with minimal state-mandated services, allowing Starbase to tailor its governance to SpaceX’s needs, including eminent domain powers and access to state grants.

Benefits and Motivations

SpaceX leaders argue that incorporation streamlines operations and supports the community’s growth. Lueders’ letter emphasized that Starbase already manages roads, utilities, schooling, and medical care, and city status would formalize these responsibilities. Incorporation could ease bureaucratic hurdles for building housing and infrastructure, attracting more workers to support Starship’s development. The company’s economic impact is significant, generating high-skill jobs and millions in local taxes in a region where poverty affects nearly one-third of residents. Supporters like Anthony Gomez, a non-SpaceX resident running a launch-viewing business, see Starbase as a draw for those wanting to live near “the most amazing thing that’s happening on Earth.”

The vote aligns with Musk’s broader vision of creating self-sustaining communities tied to his enterprises. He has floated similar plans for Snailbrook, a potential town near his X Corp and Boring Company facilities in Bastrop County, Texas. Starbase’s incorporation could set a precedent for such ventures, leveraging Texas’ permissive regulations for rural development.

Controversies and Opposition

The incorporation has sparked significant opposition, particularly over environmental and public access concerns. Boca Chica Beach, a popular public area adjacent to Starbase, must be closed during rocket launches for safety, a process currently controlled by Cameron County. SpaceX is backing a bill in the Texas Legislature to transfer weekday beach closure authority to Starbase’s commissioners, a move approved by the Texas Senate but pending in the House. Critics, including the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe, argue this could restrict access to a beach cherished for fishing, camping, and cultural significance. Protests on May 3, led by activists like Christopher Basaldú and Bekah Hinojosa, highlighted these concerns, with some carrying a piñata of Musk.

Environmentalists cite SpaceX’s history of sonic booms, debris, and incidents like fires and leaks, with 19 reported issues between 2019 and 2024. Basaldú, a Carrizo/Comecrudo member, called Boca Chica a “sacred” wildlife refuge, criticizing the light and noise pollution from Starbase’s operations. Local housing activists also fear gentrification, as SpaceX’s land acquisitions—owning all but 10 of the 247 residential lots—could displace non-employees. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report noted mixed local sentiment, with some residents welcoming economic benefits but others wanting SpaceX to leave.

Implications and Next Steps

Starbase’s incorporation marks a bold step in Musk’s ambition to reshape South Texas into a spacefaring hub. The city’s creation could enhance SpaceX’s operational efficiency, particularly as it seeks to increase launches from five to 25 annually. However, it also intensifies debates over corporate control, environmental stewardship, and public access. Cameron County will certify the election results within two weeks, after which a judge will declare Starbase an official municipality, the first new city in the county since Los Indios in 1995.

As Starbase takes shape, its leaders face the challenge of balancing SpaceX’s goals with community needs and external pressures. The outcome of the beach closure bill and ongoing environmental lawsuits will shape the city’s relationship with the broader region. For now, Starbase stands as a unique experiment in modern company towns, with Musk’s vision of a Martian future taking root on the Texas coast.

Sources: KUT Radio, TechCrunch, The Texas Tribune, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Space.com, Bloomberg, CNN, Business Insider, The New York Times, NBC News, AP News, Newsweek, ABC News