Elon Musk's SpaceX has transformed Boca Chica, Texas, into "Starbase, Texas" — a new city formed by dreams of space exploration, corporate ownership, and local controversies.
Officially, SpaceX’s transformation of Boca Chica into the city named Starbase, Texas began officially in 2019, with Musk’s vision now realized. Starbase is home to a mayor who works for SpaceX, and the majority of those residing in the new city are affiliated with the organization — emblematic of Musk’s outsized dreams of space travel, while providing the community, the earth, and surrounding environment an unusual and tenuous construct of governance with competing priorities of the environment and promotion of private commerce.
A few months ago, Musk’s nostalgic post on social media blurs the line between science fiction and innovative reality. It is a momentous occasion for SpaceX and the new official city of Starbase, Texas. Musk commemorated the occasion with a nostalgic post on X, formerly Twitter, captioned, “Starbase, Texas – now a real city!”
Starbase: From Launch Site to Incorporated City
Originally established in 2019, the Starbase site was developed as a critical launch and testing hub for SpaceX missions — including contracts with NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense. The long-term goal? Returning astronauts to the Moon and ultimately landing humans on Mars.
The newly incorporated city of Starbase now spans approximately 2.5 square kilometers, close to the Gulf Coast, near the U.S.–Mexico border.
Musk first proposed the idea of turning Starbase into a city in 2021, and after years of build-up and preparation, a formal vote was held this April.
The Vote That Made It Happen
On Saturday, residents voted to incorporate the Boca Chica area as the new municipality of Starbase. Out of 283 eligible voters, most were SpaceX employees or individuals affiliated with the launch site.
Unofficial results from Cameron County indicated a sweeping 97.7% approval in favor of forming the city. Despite being registered to vote, Elon Musk himself reportedly did not cast a ballot before early voting closed.
Starbase’s First Mayor and Government
With the vote passed, Starbase now has a local government structure that includes a mayor and two commissioners — all of whom are SpaceX employees.
Bobby Pateyn, SpaceX’s Vice President of Test and Launch Operations, received 100% of the early vote and is now the city’s first mayor.
The commissioners elected alongside him are also SpaceX-affiliated.
This tight corporate influence over a municipal government has raised several eyebrows — and some alarms.
Support From SpaceX and Moves to City Status
In a letter to local officials in 2024, SpaceX’s General Manager Kathryn Lueders supported Starbase’s city status and stressed the company wanted to develop the site into a functional community, and already provided essential services like roads, schooling, and health care.
Gathering Storm: Too Much Control for One Corporation?
As impressive as the transformation is in both a technological and organizational sense, critics are skeptical. Some of the issues raised are:
- Too much decision-making power rests in the hands of Elon Musk
- Potential for environmental impacts, especially rocket launches, in areas close to protected locations
- Public access to beaches near Boca Chica State Park in limited hours since SpaceX launches
- Regulatory control shifted from county officials to city leaders more aligned with corporate interests
Even some Texas lawmakers are mulling over a piece of legislation to transfer beach closure authority from county officials to Starbase city leaders — an opinion some legislators feel prioritize corporate interests over public access.
Environmental and Local Pushback
On the day of the vote, environmental activists from the South Texas Environmental Justice Network protested against the city’s formation. Native groups and local residents worry about the ecological footprint and limited public transparency.
Adding fuel to the fire, Texas is considering new legislation that would impose fines and possible jail time on those who refuse to evacuate the area during rocket launches.
A Unique American City — Or A Corporate Enclave?
With approximately 500 residents, most of whom are either SpaceX employees or their families, Starbase now stands as a company town — something reminiscent of the Gilded Age more than modern America. Critics liken Musk’s control to that of industrial titans of old, who governed their towns with minimal oversight.
Inside Starbase: What the City Looks Like
Located on a tiny patch of land that touches the Gulf of Mexico, near the Mexico border:
- The streets are lined with prefabricated homes, Airstream trailers, and palm trees
- A golden Elon Musk statue, labeled “Elon aka Meme Lord,” stands outside the town limits
- Astropub, a SpaceX-exclusive bar and restaurant, features a glowing red “Occupy Mars” neon sign
- A street is humorously named “Memes Street,” a nod to Musk’s internet presence
What’s Next for Starbase?
Starbase now has the legal power to plan infrastructure, establish tax policies, and administer local governance. It may become a successful hub of innovation or serve as a cautionary tale about uncontrolled corporate governance. Only time will tell.
But for Elon Musk, it is already a personal success — and a step closer to his vision for a multiplanetary civilization.
Starbase is no longer just a launch site. It is a symbol of ambition, controversy, and an example of a possible future of corporate-backed communities.