About Orting, Washington: aka "The Lil' Town with The Big O Idea"

Orting is a small city located approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Mount Rainier. The first recorded claims for the land in Orting were made in 1854 by William Henry Whitesell (also the first postmaster), Thomas Headley, Daniel Lane and Daniel Varner. These 4 people all have streets in the city named after them, plus a monument in the Orting City Park commemorating them. The city was officially incorporated on April 22, 1889.

Early growth came as the area developed fields to grow hops, produce, and logging industries. Later Christmas tree and bulb farms became important to the local economy. Orting was also a supply town for the coal mining towns of Wilkeson and Carbonado. The first railroad in the city was built in 1877. It was called "Whitesell's Crossing" because the railroad ran right through the Whitesell property. Population rose quickly after this railroad was built, as it made transportation in and out of the city much easier.

The town sits in a fertile valley between two major rivers, the Carbon and Puyallup Rivers, and it is built entirely on several layers of lahar deposits. Based on past lahar flow and the structure of Mount Rainier, Orting has been designated the most at-risk town in the event of lahar activity from the mountain. These very same lahar flows also offer the alluring opportunity to travel its wonderful topography via motorcycle, and the reason why The Big O Ride was born.