SpaceX is taking a bold step toward expanding its presence in South Texas by proposing the incorporation of its Starbase facility into an official city.
The aerospace company, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has petitioned Cameron County to hold an election on creating the city of Starbase, situated near Boca Chica Beach on Texas’s southern tip, close to the Mexican border, as first reported by the Associated Press.
In a letter addressed to county officials, SpaceX highlighted the need to transform Starbase into a community to support its growing workforce. Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase, emphasized the importance of this initiative in her communication.
“To continue growing the workforce necessary to rapidly develop and manufacture Starship, we need the ability to grow Starbase as a community,” Lueders wrote. “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.”
The idea of turning Starbase into its own city was first mentioned by Musk in 2021, when he wrote on social media: “Creating the city of Starbase, Texas.”
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr., the region’s top elected official, confirmed the county is reviewing the petition to ensure it complies with legal and statutory requirements before deciding the next steps.
The Starbase facility currently employs over 3,400 full-time SpaceX employees and contractors, according to a local impact study released earlier this year by Treviño’s office.
