SpaceX is taking a bold step toward transforming its Starbase site into an incorporated city.
The company, led by billionaire Elon Musk, sent a letter Thursday to local officials requesting an election to formalize the incorporation of Starbase, its South Texas hub where the massive Starship rockets are built and launched. According to SpaceX, residents of the area, already informally known as Starbase, submitted the petition supporting the proposal.
Located on the southern tip of Texas near Boca Chica Beach and the Mexican border, Starbase has become a focal point for Musk’s ambitious plans. Earlier this year, Musk announced the relocation of SpaceX’s and his social media company X’s headquarters from California to Texas.
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“To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship, we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” said Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase, in a letter to Cameron County officials. “That is why we are requesting that Cameron County call an election to enable the incorporation of Starbase as the newest city in the Rio Grande Valley.”
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Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the county’s top official, has yet to comment on the request.
This isn’t the first time Musk has floated the idea of turning Starbase into a city. In 2021, he tweeted, “Creating the city of Starbase, Texas,” sparking widespread interest.
Currently, more than 3,400 full-time SpaceX employees and contractors work at the Starbase site, according to a local economic impact report issued earlier this year.
However, SpaceX’s expansion has faced opposition. A group called Save RGV filed a lawsuit in July, alleging environmental violations, including the dumping of polluted water into nearby bays. SpaceX dismissed the claims as “frivolous,” citing state reviews that found no environmental risks.
As Musk and SpaceX push forward with their vision, the future of Starbase as an incorporated city rests in the hands of Cameron County officials and local voters.
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