Following a local vote approving the creation of the new municipality, Starbase – a SpaceX launch facility of one Elon Musk – will officially become a Texas city.
SpaceX began acquiring land near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas, close to Brownsville, in 2012. Today, the site spans roughly 1.6 square miles and serves as the central hub for Starship production, testing, and launches.
This past weekend, local voters—mostly SpaceX employees—voted overwhelmingly in favor of establishing the city, with 212 votes supporting the measure and only six opposing it.
“Starbase, Texas is now a real city!” Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter).
Designated a Type C municipality due to its small population (under 5,000), Starbase will be governed by a mayor—36-year-old SpaceX executive Bobby Peden, who ran unopposed—and two commissioners, all reportedly affiliated with the company. They will handle responsibilities like taxation, urban planning, and municipal oversight.
As an official city, Starbase will have the authority to enact local ordinances. A bill currently under consideration would allow SpaceX to restrict access to a highway and Boca Chica Beach during rocket tests, according to the Associated Press.
Over time, the area has transformed with the addition of homes, facilities, and idiosyncratic touches associated with Musk. At the city’s edge stands a bust of Musk labeled “ELON AKA Memelord,” and one of the main roads is called Memes St. There’s also an employee-only restaurant named “Astropub,” featuring a glowing “Occupy Mars” sign behind the bar.
Despite its quirky personality and high-tech promise, Starbase has faced significant opposition on environmental, legal, and community fronts.
Environmental advocates have warned about the proximity of rocket activity to protected natural areas, saying it endangers wildlife and disrupts fragile ecosystems. Regular road closures for testing also limit access to wildlife refuges and hinder scientific research.
Legally, critics claim that SpaceX has circumvented proper environmental assessments and expanded beyond what was originally permitted. Lawsuits have been filed citing the lack of a full Environmental Impact Statement as required by federal law.
On the community side, residents of nearby Boca Chica Village have raised concerns over their shrinking access to public beaches and Musk’s growing influence in the area. Some question whether a private corporation should wield such power over a small, ecologically sensitive region.