1877, a branch line railway was built from the Main South Line to Lawrence, and the town remained the terminus of the line until an extension was built in 1910. Although originally known as the Lawrence Branch, this line ultimately became known as the Roxburgh Branch. The railway closed in 1968 and the town's station has subsequently been demolished, but some relics still remain, including the goods shed. In 1978, two lions named Sultan and Sonia escaped from a circus in Lawrence. The circus' tranquilliser guns had accidentally been left behind in another town so they could not be shot with tranquillizer darts. They were eventually shot by police but not before one of them had scratched a seven-year-old boy across the face. The lions were stuffed and are now on display at Otago Museum. In 2011, Lawrence became the first town in New Zealand to offer town-wide free Wi-Fi internet. The Lawrence Rugby Football Club is based in the township. Lawrence's sister city is Jacksonville, Oregon. Demographics Lawrence is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers , and is part of the much larger Tuapeka statistical area. Lawrence had a population of 447 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (8.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (4.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 210 households. There were 210 males and 237 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 60 people (13.4%) aged under 15 years, 45 (10.1%) aged 15 to 29, 225 (50.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 114 (25.5%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 89.3% European/Pākehā, 19.5% Māori, and 0.7% Asian (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities). Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.7% had no religion, 36.9% were Christian and 2.0% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (12.4%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 114 (29.5%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 156 (40.3%) people were employed full-time, 69 (17.8%) were part-time, and 6 (1.6%) were unemployed. Tuapeka statistical area Tuapeka, which also includes Beaumont and Waitahuna, covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Tuapeka had a population of 1,155 at the 2018 New