SpaceX's Starbase Launch Site Officially a City in Texas
Residents near SpaceX's Starbase launch site in South Texas have voted overwhelmingly to incorporate as an official city, also named Starbase. The Cameron County Elections Department reported 212 votes in favor and only six against.
Elon Musk celebrated the news on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Starbase, Texas is now a real city!"
The newly formed city's residents are primarily SpaceX employees. In the same election, residents elected Bobby Peden as mayor and Jordan Buss and Jenna Petrzelka as city commissioners. All three candidates ran unopposed and are current or former Starbase employees.
Streamlining Operations at the Spaceport
SpaceX has indicated that incorporating the area into a city will help streamline operations. The company already manages local infrastructure, including roads, utilities, schooling, and medical care. The shift in authority from the county to the new city government may also facilitate closing nearby Boca Chica beach and state park during launches.
This development follows Elon Musk's announcement last year that SpaceX would move its headquarters from California to the Starbase facility in Texas. Musk cited various reasons for the move, including concerns about California's business environment.
A new X account representing the city of Starbase posted, "Becoming a city will help us continue building the best community possible for the men and women building the future of humanity's place in space."
