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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IvrNDHHOc2lzhJ3UF1QjxUO9W8s9/pEB7XW6bOPlk6DmBkTyeiyDoYhz0oGvOXrR
 HIW7nk5b0xAGDqEv5v6/3A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000103973-03-000199.txt : 20030724
<SEC-HEADER>0000103973-03-000199.hdr.sgml : 20030724
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030714151725
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000103973-03-000199
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030710
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030714

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGREGOR DOUGLAS J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188420

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04033
		FILM NUMBER:		03785324

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		RIVER OAKS BANK BUILDING
		STREET 2:		2001 KIRBY DRIVE SUITE 910
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			7019

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VULCAN MATERIALS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000103973
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MINING, QUARRYING OF NONMETALLIC MINERALS (NO FUELS) [1400]
		IRS NUMBER:				630366371
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1200 URBAN CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35242
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2052983000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 385014
		CITY:			BIRMINGHAM
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			35238-5014
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001188420d20030714f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-10</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000103973</issuerCik><issuerName>VULCAN MATERIALS CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>VMC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001188420</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MCGREGOR DOUGLAS J</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)</value></securityTit
le><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>39.291</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>38.177</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>39.291</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>33151.552</value></sharesOwnedFol
lowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock (Deferred Compensation)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>341.001</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>38.123</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><fo
otnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>341.001</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>33492.553</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Convertible on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Director's fees credited to the reporting person's account in accordance with the Vulcan Materials Company Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The units are to be settled in Vulcan common stock commencing at the retirement of the reporting person.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Amy M. Tucker</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-
14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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