**Musk's Expanding Empire Invades Historic Bastrop**

Bastrop, Texas, a small town of around 12,000 residents located about 40 minutes from Austin, is the latest frontier for Elon Musk's burgeoning business empire. Known for its historic charm, Bastrop is now seeing an influx of Musk's companies, transforming its sleepy cowboy-town atmosphere.

In Bastrop County, satellite-based internet provider Starlink and tunneling startup Boring Company have established facilities, while Tesla and the brain chip company Neuralink are operating nearby. Adding to this, Musk's social media platform, formerly known as Twitter, will soon inaugurate its new headquarters in Bastrop. Over 100 employees from its current Austin base have been encouraged to relocate to this small town, accelerating its transformation.

Jessica Mathews from Fortune magazine visited Bastrop twice to document these developments for Fortune’s latest issue, where Musk tops their list of the Most Powerful People in Business. Mathews encountered various signs of Musk’s presence: a parking lot full of Tesla charging stations at a local Buc-ee's and a Musk-owned Montessori school, among others. However, her main focus was on the locals' perspectives regarding this significant change in their community. One local attorney described the experience as akin to a "flying saucer landing."

Despite the extensive influence Musk wields in their lives, residents had not seen him in person. Mathews also found it challenging to secure interviews with Musk or his company representatives, as they are not particularly receptive to traditional media.

Opinions among locals about Musk's intrusion are split. Concerns range from rising housing prices to potential environmental hazards, particularly given the Boring Company's controversial projects elsewhere. On the flip side, there are positive stories, such as SpaceX donating land for community soccer fields, and none of Musk's businesses have sought tax abatements, according to a county commissioner. These efforts indicate a possible genuine attempt to invest in the community.

Adding to the town's atmosphere of suspense and change, Bastrop is also dealing with internal issues. The local mayor is embroiled in a scandal involving an alleged affair and interference in a city funds misuse investigation.

"The town has so much personality," Mathews noted, and with Musk's companies set to bring even more change, it's clear Bastrop is on the brink of a new era. For now, residents are waiting with bated breath to see what this new wave of investment and attention will bring to their unique small town.