[4] It is located between the Puyallup and Carbon rivers in central Pierce County, approximately 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Mount Rainier.

[citation needed] The area was named Gunson's Prairie by early settlers and later known as Carbon.

[5] The townsite was renamed Orting by a Northern Pacific Railway superintendent in 1877 during construction of the company's railroad to Wilkeson.

[7] The city became a suburban bedroom community for commuters from Tacoma and Seattle in the 2000s; several residential subdivisions were constructed in the areas surrounding Orting's historic downtown.

[11] The 2010 United States census recorded 6,746 people, 2,184 households and 1,688 families residing in the city.

Nearby, the Soldiers Home Cemetery contains 2,265 graves, including four Medal of Honor recipients from the American Civil War.

[15] The Voights Creek Hatchery is located outside Orting, attracting fishermen for its salmon.

Main City Park in downtown includes a covered gazebo and a memorial wall.

The Orting Police handle law enforcement within city limits, comprising 11 commissioned officers and one full-time working civilian.

Despite large growth in population, the police department's staffing levels have experienced little change.

Pickens was the first black officer in the city and was fired a few days before his probationary period was due to end.

His personal vehicle was spray-painted with a racial slur and a threat to not sue the police chief.

[18] The legal settlement was controversial at the time as it occurred despite the release of an independent investigation into Pickens' employment with the city revealed numerous reports of his on-duty misconduct, neglect of duty, dishonesty and general incompetence in his role as a police officer.