Starbase: Texas Takes a Giant Leap into Cityhood
In a rather unorthodox twist of fate, a remote patch of southern Texas—home to Elon Musk’s SpaceX launch site—has officially been transformed into a city, now known as Starbase. This designation came after a decisive vote by local residents on Saturday, marking yet another chapter in Musk’s saga of ambitious ventures.
Out of 283 eligible voters, predominantly SpaceX employees, an overwhelming 212 cast their ballots in favor of cityhood, while a mere six opposed the initiative, according to the results from Cameron County. Musk, ever the showman, celebrated this milestone on his social media platform X, declaring: “Starbase, Texas is now a real city!”
Starbase, Texas
Is now a real city!
— gorklon rust (@elonmusk) May 4, 2025
The newly minted Starbase spans a modest 1.6 square miles (3.9 sq km)—a once-desolate stretch of land that SpaceX began acquiring in 2012, perhaps envisioning the next frontier of human exploration. Governance will be handled by a mayor and two commissioners, primarily responsible for planning, taxation, and other municipal affairs, all under the watchful eye of Musk’s ambitious plans.
How it started vs how it’s going pic.twitter.com/7WwTO2rj9i
— Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) May 4, 2025
Leading the charge as the first mayor is Bobby Peden, a vice president at SpaceX, who, unsurprisingly, ran unopposed. Two additional SpaceX-affiliated residents have also secured commissioner roles without facing any challengers. One can only wonder how democratic this process truly is when the competition appears to be nonexistent.
Interestingly, Musk himself resides in the area, which boasts quirky features such as “Memes Street” and a large bust of Musk—though this latter piece has recently faced some vandalism. The surrounding community is home to about 500 residents. Although discussions about forming a city had been floating around for years, it wasn’t until a formal petition filed in December 2024 that the wheels of democracy began to turn.
S T A R B A S E https://t.co/Qs322y8n6E pic.twitter.com/GCMZAecjnH
— Space Sudoer (@spacesudoer) May 4, 2025
Starbase has achieved classification as a Type C municipality, which is a designation for cities with fewer than 5,000 residents. This status grants city officials the power to impose property taxes of up to 1.5%, according to the Texas Municipal League—an enticing prospect for those looking to fund ambitious projects that might involve launching rockets or, perhaps, the occasional meme.
Moreover, a proposed bill in the Texas legislature could empower Starbase to close nearby roads and restrict access to Boca Chica Beach and Boca Chica State Park during rocket launches—powers that are currently under the jurisdiction of Cameron County officials. This shift reflects Musk’s ongoing trend of relocating operations from California to Texas, citing the Golden State’s allegedly stifling regulations and unwelcoming business environment.
The headquarters of Musk’s companies, including X and The Boring Company, have now found a home near Bastrop, around five and a half hours north of Starbase—further solidifying the Lone Star State’s claim as the new hub of innovation, or at least, a playground for billionaires looking to push the boundaries of earthly constraints.
