A romantic western set before the American Civil War, The Young Riders presented a highly fictionalized account of the hey-day of the Pony Express. The focus was a group of young express riders based in Sweetwater, Kansas station ran by an ex-Texas ranger and all-around eccentric Teaspoon Hunter. Adventure and romance themed each episode, however, the show also provided some thought provoking moments when focusing on the early lives of some well-known historical figures as well as the tensions amongst friends during a time when the United States was preparing to enter the Civil War.