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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188417</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JAMES DONALD M</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>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21.53</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>78.610</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>228469.000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <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>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Amy M. Tucker, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2006-08-31
0
0000103973
VULCAN MATERIALS CO
VMC
0001188417
JAMES DONALD M
1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
BIRMINGHAM
AL
35242
1
1
0
0
Chairman & CEO
Common Stock
2006-08-31
4
I
0
21.53
78.610
D
228469.000
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).
By: Amy M. Tucker, Attorney-in-Fact
2006-09-05