Elon Musk’s long-held vision of turning SpaceX’s launch site into an official city has taken a giant leap forward. In a historic vote, residents of Boca Chica Village, Texas, overwhelmingly chose to incorporate their community as a new municipality: Starbase.
According to Cameron County election officials, 173 of the 177 votes counted by 7 pm Saturday (local time) supported the creation of the new city. The area, which spans approximately 1.6 square miles, has been the focal point of Musk’s ambitions since 2021 when he first floated the name “Starbase.”
“Starbase, Texas is now a real city!” Musk posted online, marking a symbolic milestone for the world’s richest man and his rocket company, SpaceX.
The vote effectively grants SpaceX’s South Texas base a local government with a mayor and two commissioners, who will have authority over planning, taxation, and other municipal affairs.
While most of the 283 eligible voters are SpaceX employees or affiliates, some residents have voiced concern. Critics argue the company has disrupted the region’s ecology and altered its rural character. Still, early voting numbers, reportedly over 200 ballots, suggested strong momentum toward incorporation.
Though Musk did not appear on the early voter list, having last cast a ballot in Cameron County in November, his presence loomed large over the process.
Starbase’s formation could set a precedent for tech-driven city-building, but it also raises questions about corporate influence over civic life.