Elon Musk’s SpaceX is seeking to transform its industrial complex in southern Texas into a city. This week, the space exploration company submitted a letter to Cameron County officials, requesting an election to incorporate its Starbase facility.
Located near the U.S.-Mexico border, Starbase serves as the primary testing and production site for SpaceX rockets.
Musk first proposed the concept in 2021 via a social media post. In the letter, the company pointed to a petition for incorporation submitted by local residents.
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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,” Kathryn Lueders, general manager of Starbase, said of the move. “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.”
While the idea of turning Starbase into a city isn’t new, it’s the first time SpaceX filed an official petition.
The company has made a significant economic impact in the area. A local impact study showed more than 3,400 full-time employees and contractors currently work at the site.
However, the SpaceX’s operations in the region faced criticism. Earlier this year, a lawsuit accused the company of environmental violations, including dumping polluted water into a nearby bay.
SpaceX responded that a state review found no environmental risks and dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous.”
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