Ready to Launch Your Own Starbase? 3 Minnesota Plots Where You Could Literally Build a City

When Elon Musk re‑branded Boca Chica, Texas as Starbase, he reminded the world that it’s still possible to carve a brand‑new municipality out of the open landscape—if you know the rules. Minnesota might be better known for lakes than launchpads, but Clay County’s wide‑open prairies hide the same DIY potential. Below, you’ll find three unincorporated, 3,000‑acre canvases within a 20‑minute drive of Fargo‑Moorhead where you could—quite literally—draw your own city limits, plus a battle‑tested blueprint for turning raw land into a legally recognized town … and eventually a full‑fledged city hall.

(Spoiler: you only need 100 supportive property owners and a good map to get started.)

Township base map of Clay County, Minn., showing rural townships (white/gray) and city footprints (tan). Source: Clay County.

Site #1 – Red River Agri‑Village (North of Moorhead | Kragnes / Oakport)

The Setting

Just beyond Moorhead’s northern edge, rippling fields meet cottonwood‑lined bends of the Red River. Highway 75 delivers commuters to downtown in under ten minutes, yet the township feels purely rural.

Why It Works

• Easily platted land and highway frontage

• Proximity to Moorhead water mains for future utility hook‑ups

• Built‑in “brand”—Kragnes is already a named community

The Vision

A next‑gen agrihood: cluster energy‑efficient homesteads on the high ground; preserve the flood‑plain riverbank as public greenway; anchor the economy with farm‑to‑table markets, agritourism, and community‑supported agriculture plots.

Site #2 – Rustad Homestead Community (South of Moorhead | Kurtz Township)

The Setting

A hush falls over Kurtz Township after sunset—no interstate roar, just wind through wheat. The hamlet of Rustad sits on gravel crossroads twenty minutes south of the metro.

Why It Works

• Affordable cropland (often <$8K/acre) and motivated sellers

• Minimal existing population—local farmers hold most of the signatures you need

• Broad, flat terrain ideal for solar or small‑scale wind generation

The Vision

An off‑grid‑friendly eco‑hamlet: 2‑ to 5‑acre lots for hobby farms and horses, community solar arrays feeding back to the grid, and a riverside campground to lure weekend paddlers.

Site #3 – Baker–Downer Junction (I‑94 Exit 15)

The Setting

Two sleepy hamlets—grain‑elevator Baker and highway‑side Downer—bookend an interstate exit halfway between Moorhead and Barnesville.

Why It Works

• Direct I‑94 access (15 min to Moorhead, 10 min to Barnesville)

• Existing traffic counts support travel‑center development

• Platted village grid at Baker satisfies Minnesota’s “must include platted land” rule

The Vision

A junction city that pairs a revitalized railroad village with a 24/7 travel‑center district: think truck stop + EV super‑chargers, micro‑brew taproom, and a commuter subdivision of one‑acre lots that offers “country taxes, city‑speed commutes.”

The 7‑Step Minnesota Blueprint for Incorporation

1. Assemble Your Coalition Form a steering committee of landowners and draft a clean boundary map (~4.7 sq mi).

2. Secure 100 Signatures Minn. Stat. § 414.02 requires 100 property‑owner signatures—or a township board resolution.

3. Serve 30‑Day Notice Certified‑mail your intent to every adjoining township, city, and the county board.

4. File the Petition Submit the packet, map, and filing fee to the Municipal Boundary Adjustment Unit of the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).

5. Win the Public Hearing Make your case: Why is the area “about to become urban,” and why is incorporation better than annexation?

6. Celebrate the Order of Incorporation The Administrative Law Judge issues an order creating Minnesota’s newest statutory city.

7. Elect a Mayor & Draft Your Ordinances Hold special elections, adopt interim zoning, and—if you wish—kick off a Home‑Rule Charter commission for ultimate local control.

   
   

What Could Your City Become?

• Agri‑Tech Hub: incubate vertical‑farm start‑ups and hazelnut orchards.

• Renewable‑Energy Commons: site community wind turbines and battery storage that power the grid and pay dividends to residents.

• Destination Campground: blend stargazing yurts with farm‑stay cabins and a riverfront festival meadow.

• Highway Smart‑Stop: at Baker‑Downer, a new‑generation rest area with hydrogen fueling, fast EV charging, and artisan food court.

Closing Thoughts

City‑building isn’t just for billionaires with rockets. Minnesota law still favors the bold homesteader willing to organize neighbors, notarize signatures, and follow the playbook. Whether you dream of a carbon‑neutral eco‑village, a bustling interstate junction, or a pastoral agri‑town that feeds Fargo‑Moorhead, the map of Clay County still has blank spaces—and state statute 414 gives you the pen.

So, which prairie horizon will you turn into Minnesota’s next dot on the map? Grab your map, round up 100 signatures, and let’s find out.