Elon Musk’s Starbase becomes ‘real’ Texas city after lopsided vote
The Birth of Starbase: SpaceX’s South Texas Home Officially Becomes a City
The South Texas home of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket company has transformed into an official city, now known as Starbase.
On Saturday, a vote was held to formally establish Starbase as a city, and it was overwhelmingly approved by the small group of voters residing there, most of whom are employees of SpaceX, led by Musk.
With 212 votes in favor and only 6 against, as per the results published by the Cameron County Elections Department, Starbase officially came into existence.
Elon Musk took to his social platform, X, to celebrate the milestone, declaring that Starbase is now a “real city!”
Starbase serves as the facility and launch site for SpaceX’s rocket program, contracted with the Department of Defense and NASA, aiming to send astronauts back to the moon and eventually to Mars.
Musk had initially proposed the idea of Starbase in 2021, and the approval of the new city was almost inevitable, given that most of the 283 eligible voters in the area are believed to be Starbase employees.
The election victory held personal significance for Musk.
While Musk’s public image has faced challenges, SpaceX has received widespread support for its contributions to the local economy through job creation and investments.
However, the establishment of a company town like Starbase has raised concerns among critics who fear an expansion of Musk’s control over the region, potentially leading to the closure of public spaces like beaches and parks for rocket launches.
Efforts accompanying the city vote include legislative bills aiming to transfer authority from the county to Starbase’s mayor and city council.
These developments coincide with SpaceX’s request to increase the number of launches in South Texas from five to 25 annually.
Starbase, located at the southern tip of Texas near the Mexico border, spans approximately 1.5 square miles, featuring a few roads and a mix of airstream trailers and midcentury homes.
SpaceX officials have emphasized the need to grow Starbase as a community, highlighting their existing management of infrastructure and services such as schooling and healthcare for residents.
