Highland Park residents have a new way to receive city news and information via Facebook and Twitter.

Just before the holidays, the city set up new accounts that allows residents who click the “like” icon the city’s new Facebook page to receive updates. Also, residents can follow the same flow of information on the city’s new Twitter feed.

The city’s Facebook page has grown rapidly. On Dec. 27, less than 100 people had signed up to “like” the city’s page. By Dec. 29, that number had climbed to more than 1,000.

Highland Park is among the latest local towns to add a Facebook Page. Oak Park and Schaumburg already have their own.

City news will still be posted on the city’s web site, so residents can still go there for updates, but the Facebook and Twitter pages may be more convenient conduits to find the same information, said Highland Park Councilman Steven Mandel.

“What’s cool about Facebook is that people tend to check it one to two times per day, so they will see our postings,” Mandel said.

Mayor Nancy Rotering, who was elected in April, said the city’s latest endeavor into social media is part of her keeping a campaign promise to bring more transparency to local government. She has also pushed for the city’s agenda’s to be posted 10 days in advance, which is about a week earlier than had previously been the case, she said.

Rotering added that the social media accounts may also help promote the city.

“Others outside the community can “like” our Facebook page and use it to plan weekends or see what new restaurant or business is in town,” Rotering said.

To access the city’s social media accounts, go to the city’s homepage and click on the Facebook or Twitter icons on the bottom of the page. Residents can also go to Facebook directly and enter “City of Highland Park, Illinois” in the search function or enter “CityHPIL” on Twitter.