The South Texas launch site that has served as the heart of Elon Musk’s SpaceX operations is now officially a city, Starbase, Texas.

Following a decisive local vote on Saturday, the Cameron County Elections Department reported the measure passed with 212 votes in favor and just 6 against.

The vote for a city charter was always expected to pass. There were 283 eligible voters, and most of them were SpaceX employees.

Musk celebrated the news on his social media platform, X, declaring that Starbase is “now a real city!”

New York Post – Elon Musk’s Starbase Becomes Real Texas City After Lopsided Vote

Ars Rocket Report

A City with a Mission: Moon, Mars, and Beyond

SpaceX started its Starbase production site as a tent city. The area has come a long way since then. Now it is a legal municipality in Texas.

Musk first floated the idea of creating Starbase in 2021. 

Starbase is not just a name—it’s the epicenter of SpaceX’s most ambitious endeavors.

Located near Brownsville, Texas, the site is home to the development and testing of Musk’s massive rocket systems, some of which are under contract with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense.

These rockets are part of plans to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually put humans on Mars.

A Personal Win Amid Broader Scrutiny

The vote marks a personal victory for Musk, whose public image has taken a hit since his alignment with DOGE which has been making federal job and spending cuts under President Donald Trump.

The violent attacks on Tesla have created a sharp drop in that company’s profits.

Despite the controversy, local officials have mostly supported SpaceX, citing the thousands of jobs and economic growth the company has brought to South Texas.

Still, the idea of a company town has raised eyebrows. Critics fear that formal cityhood could give Musk greater control over public spaces like Boca Chica Beach and State Park, which are often closed during launches.

Power Struggles Over Beach Access and Launch Authority

In conjunction with the city vote, bills in the Texas Legislature seek to transfer authority over beach closures from Cameron County to the new Starbase government. This would allow SpaceX to streamline launch operations that require the temporary closure of roads and public beaches.

“We need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” said Starbase General Manager Kathryn Lueders in a 2024 letter to local officials.

The letter outlined how SpaceX already manages roads, utilities, schooling, and medical care within the area.

However, opponents say these changes favor corporate control over public interest. The South Texas Environmental Justice Network has led demonstrations, including one held Saturday during the vote, arguing that beach access should remain a public right.

Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr., emphasized that the current arrangement with SpaceX works and questioned the need for new legislation.

Another controversial bill would make it a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail, to ignore an order to evacuate the beach during launches.

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A New Chapter for Starbase

Starbase covers just 1.5 square miles, populated with Airstream trailers and modest homes, and lined with roads often traveled by SpaceX employees in Teslas. But its impact stretches far beyond its physical footprint.

With the election results pending final certification by Cameron County commissioners, Starbase is poised to become a unique experiment: a city built around space exploration, run by a private company, and shaped by Musk’s interplanetary vision.