E
lon Musk is pushing to turn his South Texas Starbase into an official town. SpaceX, led by Musk, has submitted a petition to Cameron County, requesting an election to incorporate the area as the city of Starbase, Texas. The proposed city is located near Boca Chica Beach and serves as the hub for SpaceX's Starship rocket development and launch operations.

    The county, which borders Mexico and voted Republican in November after previously being Democratic, may favor the measure. In a letter, Kathryn Lueders, SpaceX's general manager of Starbase, stated that incorporating the area would allow them to grow their workforce and community. This ambition was hinted at by Musk on social media in 2021.

    SpaceX employs over 3,400 staff and contractors at Starbase, which has sparked both excitement and controversy. A local impact study highlighted the site's economic contributions, but environmental group Save RGV sued SpaceX in July, alleging it violated environmental laws. If approved, the incorporation of Starbase could establish South Texas as a center for aerospace innovation.

    Musk's growing presence in Texas is also notable, with plans to relocate X (formerly Twitter) from San Francisco to Austin and investments in Neuralink in Del Valle, a suburb near Austin. His other ventures, including Tesla and Boring Co., are also active in the state.