Starbase Becomes Texas’ Newest City Amid SpaceX Ambitious Expansion in the Lone Star State

In a landmark move, Starbase, Texas, was officially incorporated as a city on May 3, 2025, following a near-unanimous vote by its residents, predominantly SpaceX employees. The 1.6-square-mile community, located near Boca Chica Bay in Cameron County, serves as the epicenter for SpaceX’s Starship program, aimed at revolutionizing space travel with missions to the Moon and Mars.

Starbase is a growing company town founded by SpaceX, servicing the growing population of workers at the Starbase launch facility (The “Starfactory”) who have moved on-site. While over 240 permanent residents called Starbase home in summer of 2025, the current population is estimated at more than 1,200 full-time residents and contractors as of this November, with rapid housing construction underway to accommodate thousands more in the coming years.

The city’s official incorporation, approved by a 212-to-6 vote, among the roughly 350 registered voters who were mostly SpaceX employees and their families, marks a significant step in Elon Musk’s vision to transform the area into a self-sustaining hub for space exploration. The newly elected mayor, Bobby Peden, a 12-year SpaceX veteran, and commissioners Jenna Petrzelka and Jordan Buss, both with ties to the company, are tasked with establishing municipal services like zoning, taxation, and potentially police and fire departments. The city’s first budget, approved in September 2025, is approximately $4.2 million, largely funded through property taxes on SpaceX-owned land and facilities.

The official incorporation of Starbase as a city grants SpaceX greater control over local regulations, streamlining operations by managing building permits and infrastructure previously overseen by Cameron County. This shift effectively removes most local oversight from Cameron County commissioners, who had repeatedly clashed with SpaceX over beach closures, environmental compliance, and road usage.

This new autonomy has sparked both excitement and concern. SpaceX has already invested heavily in the region, contributing millions to the local economy and creating hundreds of jobs. By late 2025, SpaceX employs more than 3,000 people directly at Starbase, with indirect employment supporting thousands more in Brownsville and surrounding areas.

On the other hand, local activists, including the South Texas Environmental Justice Network and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Tribe, have raised alarms about restricted access to Boca Chica Beach, a public recreational area, which has been closed for over 600 hours in 2025 alone for testing and launches, and potential environmental impacts from rocket testing, such as toxic wastewater from the deluge system, sonic booms that have damaged homes and wildlife habitats, and debris fallout that has repeatedly reached public roads and beaches. Critics argue that the city’s governance, dominated by SpaceX affiliates, prioritizes corporate interests over public access and ecological preservation. Several lawsuits remain active against both SpaceX and the newly formed city regarding violations of the Texas Open Beaches Act and federal environmental regulations.

Despite these tensions, Starbase’s incorporation is seen as a strategic move to support SpaceX’s rapid development of the Starship rocket. The company recently secured approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for plans to engage at least 25 test launches in 2026, with the long-term goal of up to 300 orbital launches per year once the facility reaches full operational capacity.

The company has announced plans to expand housing and amenities for its workforce, addressing a local housing shortage. New neighborhoods such as “Launchpad Village” and “Orbital Outpost” are under construction, with SpaceX planning for up to 10,000 residents within the city limits by 2030. With the Texas Legislature granting Starbase authority to close Boca Chica Beach for launches, a power previously held only by the county and now delegated exclusively to the SpaceX-aligned city government, SpaceX’s influence in the region continues to grow, positioning Starbase at the forefront of the dawn of the space age – a bold leap forward for a community with a galactic ambition.