Capels was named after Martin Caples, an official with Norfolk & Western Railway. The spelling of the town eventually

changed to Capels. Standard Pocahontas Coal Company opened the first mine in Capels in 1910.

 The coal mine in Capels, WV in the 1980s was owned by Semet-Solvay. The mine ceased traditional operations around 1985, leading to a significant economic downturn in the area, but a small residential community still remains today. The broader decline of the coal industry, mechanization, and the loss of major operators like U.S. Steel led to the town's transformation. 

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