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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204577</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WASON ROBERT A IV</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, Corp Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (401k)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1973</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8041</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock (401k)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>731</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7310</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2272</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2272</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1865</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.00</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>616</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>616</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1249</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Vulcan Materials Company Thrift Plan for Salaried Employees is a defined contribution plan that accounts for participant interests in the Plan, including interests in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) account, in terms of dollars.  The number reported has been calculated by converting into shares the change in the dollar amount (net of changes due to intra-plan transfers) allocated to the participant's employer stock account during the period (resulting from participant contributions, Company-matching contributions and dividend equivalent payments on employer stock account balances) based on a formula used by the Company in the administration of the Plan.  The corresponding transactions by the Plan in the Company's common stock are exempt from the application of Section 16(b).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Disposition of shares under the Vulcan Materials Company Executive 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>2004-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-11-02
0
0000103973
VULCAN MATERIALS CO
VMC
0001204577
WASON ROBERT A IV
1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
BIRMINGHAM
AL
35242
0
1
0
0
Sr. VP, Corp Development
Common Stock (401k)
2004-11-02
4
I
0
1973
49.73
D
8041
I
By 401(k)
Common Stock (401k)
2004-11-03
4
I
0
731
50.00
D
7310
I
By 401(k)
Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)
0.00
2004-11-02
4
J
0
2272
49.73
D
Common Stock
2272
1865
D
Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)
0.00
2004-11-03
4
J
0
616
50.00
D
Common Stock
616
1249
D
The Vulcan Materials Company Thrift Plan for Salaried Employees is a defined contribution plan that accounts for participant interests in the Plan, including interests in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) account, in terms of dollars.  The number reported has been calculated by converting into shares the change in the dollar amount (net of changes due to intra-plan transfers) allocated to the participant's employer stock account during the period (resulting from participant contributions, Company-matching contributions and dividend equivalent payments on employer stock account balances) based on a formula used by the Company in the administration of the Plan.  The corresponding transactions by the Plan in the Company's common stock are exempt from the application of Section 16(b).
Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.
Disposition of shares under the Vulcan Materials Company Executive 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
2004-11-04