Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, is looking to add something to his impressive list of achievements: his own company town. After moving his SpaceX operations to Texas due to political reasons, Musk now plans to create a new municipality in the state's coastal South. The town, known as Starbase, is home to a growing number of SpaceX employees, many of whom are pushing to establish it as an official town.

Since July, SpaceX employees at the Starbase launch site have begun filing a petition to incorporate the area as a town, requiring majority voter support. Starbase currently has about 500 inhabitants, including around 219 primary residents and 100 children. The proposed town would cover 1.5 square miles, almost the size of Central Park, and is predominantly made up of SpaceX employees who are renters.

Musk’s decision to create a town follows his earlier move of relocating SpaceX's headquarters from California to Texas after he publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for certain policies. He cited the state’s law, which prevents schools from informing parents if their children use different names or pronouns, as a "final straw."

Robert Greer, a professor at Texas A&M University, explains that by creating a small, controlled area, Musk can streamline the processes necessary to develop a world-class community. Kathryn Lueders, Starbase’s general manager, highlighted that incorporating Starbase would make it easier to create the amenities necessary for workers and their families, especially as SpaceX’s expansion continues.

While some locals have supported the plan, others have pushed back, with a group suing SpaceX over environmental concerns related to pollution. If the proposed city receives approval, SpaceX's security manager, Gunnar Milburn, is expected to become the first mayor of Starbase.

If Musk’s plans succeed, it would be another milestone in his quest to reshape the future, this time with his very own company town in Texas.