OP, having been in a smaller school and a larger one, you already have some valuable insights into what kind of environment you might like. Think about what you liked about your last school. Was it the sense of community? Small classes? That could help you figure out where you’d like to go for college – even among the LACs – and you have a valuable reference point many of your peers do not. So while you’re feeling a little like a fish out of water in your new school, it may be helpful to you moving forward.
As for economics departments, you may want to look at what classes the schools you’re thinking about offer, how frequently, and how easily you can couple economics with other things that interest you. It can have value for someone interested in everything from health care to public policy to hedge funds. Unless you get a graduate degree, economics is more of a framework for looking at issues than an end-point, so IMO, a great discipline to couple with something else.
You should also look at the requirements for a major. At many schools, the major is very math-heavy, and this can dissuade some students. Faculty publications are a great way to see what profs are interested in, but their interests may not mean a whole lot for your education (although it could mean that you may be able to do research with them later in your college career.) At many LACs, economics is one of the most popular majors, so when you get to the point of visiting schools next spring, you’ll usually be able to find a class to sit in on. Definitely do that!