McALLEN, Texas — SpaceX: Cameron County officials have scheduled a May 3 election that will allow residents near SpaceX’s launch site to vote on the incorporation of a new city, SpaceX Starbase. The proposed municipality, located in an unincorporated area along the U.S.-Mexico border, would formalize the growing community surrounding billionaire Elon Musk’s aerospace company.
Resident Petition Pushes Incorporation Forward
In December, over 70 residents signed a petition requesting Starbase become an official municipality. Most of the petitioners are SpaceX employees, and the community includes more than 100 children, according to documents obtained by media.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño confirmed that the petition met state requirements.
“If the election passes, this will be the newest town in Cameron County since Los Indios in 1995. We look forward to seeing the outcome of this election,” Treviño stated.
SpaceX has yet to comment on the approval of the vote.
SpaceX: Potential Benefits and Concerns of Incorporation
According to Kathryn Lueders, Starbase’s general manager, city status would help streamline development, allowing for more infrastructure and amenities. However, some environmental advocates worry about potential ecological impacts.
SpaceX has operated in Texas since 2014, with the majority of land in the proposed Starbase area under company ownership—only 10 out of 250 lots are privately held.
A local economic impact study reported that more than 3,400 SpaceX employees and contractors currently work at the Starbase site.
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Musk’s Expanding Footprint in Texas
Elon Musk has been expanding his business ventures across Texas since moving there in 2020, citing its pro-business environment. Tesla’s massive 10-million-square-foot Gigafactory, which produces Cybertrucks, opened near Austin in 2022 and also serves as the company’s headquarters.
If the incorporation vote passes, Starbase will become an official Texas city, further cementing Musk’s presence in the state’s economy and development landscape.
