<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000103973</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VULCAN MATERIALS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267371</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TROSINO VINCENT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35242</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-03</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>201.223</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>55.908</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>201.223</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2955.495</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This payment relates to a quarterly retainer which should have been paid to Mr. Trosino in February 2005, but was not paid until January 3, 2006.  The stock price reflects the average stock price on February 12, 2005, the date on which the payment should have been made.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Director's fees credited to the reporting person's account in accordance with the Vulcan Materials Company Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The units are to be settled in Vulcan common stock commencing at the retirement of the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Amy M. Tucker, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-01-03
0
0000103973
VULCAN MATERIALS CO
VMC
0001267371
TROSINO VINCENT J
1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
BIRMINGHAM
AL
35242
1
0
0
0
Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)
2006-01-03
4
A
0
201.223
55.908
A
Common Stock
201.223
2955.495
D
Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.
This payment relates to a quarterly retainer which should have been paid to Mr. Trosino in February 2005, but was not paid until January 3, 2006.  The stock price reflects the average stock price on February 12, 2005, the date on which the payment should have been made.
Director's fees credited to the reporting person's account in accordance with the Vulcan Materials Company Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.
The units are to be settled in Vulcan common stock commencing at the retirement of the reporting person.
By: Amy M. Tucker, Attorney-in-Fact
2006-01-05